Assam Enters a New Solar Era with Inauguration of 70 MW Dhubri Power Project
Assam marked a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey on Wednesday with the inauguration of the 70 MW Dhubri Solar Power Project of SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL). The project was formally inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the presence of Power Minister Prasanta Phukan, Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN Bhupender Gupta, ACS (Energy) and Chairman APDCL Dr. Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, Managing Director APDCL Rakesh Kumar (IAS), Director (Personnel) SJVN Ajay Kumar Sharma, along with senior officials from the Assam government and SJVN.
The commissioning of this project is being seen as a landmark achievement, as it is the first large-scale solar power project in Assam and also the first operational project of SJVN in the North Eastern Region. The initiative reflects Assam’s growing focus on clean energy and aligns with national goals of energy security, sustainability, and reduced carbon emissions.
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### Project Strengthens Assam’s Clean Energy Capacity and Local Employment
Speaking on the occasion, SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership in promoting renewable energy across the country. He also acknowledged the support of Union Power Minister Manohar Lal, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi, the Government of India, and the Government of Assam for their consistent guidance in the execution of this project and support for future initiatives in the state.
Gupta stated that the successful completion of the Dhubri Solar Power Project underlines SJVN’s commitment to expanding renewable energy capacity in the region. He emphasized that the project will play an important role in meeting national renewable energy targets while contributing to long-term environmental sustainability.
Director (Personnel) SJVN Ajay Kumar Sharma highlighted that the project has generated direct and indirect employment opportunities for local communities during both the construction and operational phases. He added that the supply of clean and green electricity from the project will significantly strengthen Assam’s renewable energy portfolio and support the state’s transition towards sustainable power generation.
Key Project Details and SJVN’s Growing Renewable Footprint
The 70 MW Dhubri Solar Power Project has been developed by SGEL on 330 acres of land provided by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) on a 28-year lease basis. The project is located at Village Khudigaon Pt-II under the Bilasipara Revenue Circle in Dhubri district. It was awarded to SGEL by APDCL on February 16, 2023, through a tariff-based competitive bidding process at a tariff of Rs 3.92 per unit. The EPC cost of the project is Rs 367.44 crore.
The solar plant is designed to generate 141.13 million units of electricity in its first year, operating at a Capacity Utilization Factor of 23 percent. Over its 25-year life cycle, the project is expected to generate around 3,230 million units of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1,58,270 tonnes, making it a significant contributor to climate action efforts.
The foundation stone of the project was virtually laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 4, 2024.
SJVN Limited, a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, is steadily expanding its footprint in renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydro projects across India. Through its subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited, the company is actively contributing to India’s clean energy transition, with a focus on sustainable development, regional growth, and energy security. The Dhubri Solar Power Project stands as a key step in SJVN’s expansion into the North Eastern Region and Assam’s emergence as a renewable energy hub.
