1.7MW Solar PV with 1.4 MWh BESS at Kavaratti, Agatti islands of Lakshadweep

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Economic/Social Impact of the Project To develop Carbon Free Islands by phasing out use of Diesel for generation of electricity and to contribute to national Action Plan on Climate change Greening of the Islands, a] SECI signed an MoU dated 07.10.2018 and PPA dated 09.01.2019 with Lakshadweep Electricity Department [LED] for setting up of 25.14MW Solar PV Power Projects with up to 75.71 MWH Battery Energy Storage System [BESS] in 11 islands [Including Floating Solar Power plant & Ground mounted Solar Power plant with BESS] through EPC mode. b] Out of the above, in the first phase, SECI had awarded an aggregate capacity of 1.95MW Solar PV plants [land based] with 2.15 MWh Battery Energy Storage Systems [BESS] at four islands [Agatti, Kavaratti, Bangaram & Thinnakara] in Lakshadweep vide LOA dated 09/07/2020. c] As Lakshadweep planned to go for Privatization of the DISCOM hence on 05/03/2021 SECI was asked to drop the projects at Bangaram and Thinnakara and to proceed with projects at Kavaratti and Agatti only. Due to deletion of the projects the capacity was reduced to 1.7 MW Solar PV with 1.4MWh BESS. Later again vide letter dated 24/02/2022 Lakshadweep Administration has asked SECI to stop the work in Agatti [300 KW Solar] as well as Kavaratti [1400 KW Solar + BESS 1.4 MWh] on immediate basis citing the reasons of expiry of land lease agreement between Lakshadweep Administration and the land owners as well as the extension of the agreement being put on hold in the wake of privatization. SECI along with its EPC contractor has put in substantial man-hours and material to complete the projects. Detailed Status of project is as under- Modules- delivered Inverters- delivered MMS- Delivered Transformer- expected to arrive by end of March 2022 Battery Energy Storage System [BESS]- expected to arrive by end of March 2022 Balance of system- delivered Foundation work- Completed at Agatti