Bharat heavy electricals limited (BHEL) has secured an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) order for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop systems totalling to 3.6 megawatt (MW) capacity from the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

While all the 10 identified areas of installation would be within the municipal limits; 1 MW of energy will be required for Surat smart city. This is the single largest order for a rooftop PV system bagged by BHEL and will be an important step in establishing BHEL as one of the key players in the rooftop PV system.
 
BHEL manufactures solar cells and modules at its Electronics Division in Bengaluru, while space-grade solar panels using high efficiency cells and space-grade battery panels are manufactured at its electronic systems division, also in Bengaluru.

The company has enhanced its annual manufacturing capacity of solar cells to 105 MW and solar modules to 226 MW. Its new state-of-the-art 200 MW solar PV module manufacturing line and upgraded 105 MW solar PV cell manufacturing line were recently inaugurated by union minister for heavy industries and public enterprises Anant Geete, at the company’s manufacturing plants in Bengaluru.

Significantly, BHEL is one of the few companies in India whose solar business is backed by a dedicated R&D team at the company’s Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Plant (ASSCP) in Gurugram.