India's Suzlon bags turbine order for 69MW wind project in Gujarat

Indian renewable energy solutions provider Suzlon Group confirmed the second order of its 3MW turbine product series for a 69.3MW wind power project for Juniper Green Energy.

The wind project is located in the Surendra Nagar district in Gujarat. Indian independent power producer and project owner Juniper Green Energy plans to commission it in 2024.

As part of the contract, Suzlon will install 22 wind turbine generators with a hybrid lattice tubular tower. The turbines have a rated capacity of 3.15MW each.

Suzlon also will execute the project including, erection and commissioning, as well as provide operations and maintenance services post-commissioning.

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JP Chalasani, CEO, Suzlon Group, said in a statement: "Juniper Green Energy is a committed renewable energy player in India with a comprehensive solar footprint. This is their first wind energy project, and we are honoured that they have placed their trust in us for the same. The electricity from this project will serve the people of Gujarat, helping us deepen our contribution to the state."

According to Suzlon, this is the first major order for the company's largest turbine rated 3.15MW, S144-140m from the 3MW series.

The 3MW turbines feature a 144-meter rotor diameter and, according to Suzlon, are designed to maximise low wind sites and deliver improved energy yield. This is achieved through the use of the Doubly Fed Induction Generator technology and the SB 70.5 carbon fibre blade engineered and developed by Suzlon. These features provide the capability to utilize thinner aerodynamic profiles, resulting in improved performance in low-wind sites, and a significant increase in generation yield per unit of land.

The S144 wind turbine generator is available at a hub height of 140 meters going up to 160 meters. At 160 meters hub height, the S144 will also be India's tallest wind turbine, according to Suzlon.

Juniper Green Energy's entrance to the wind sector in India

The Gujarat project is Juniper Green Energy's first wind project. Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) issued a 500MW Wind-Phase III Bid in May 2022. Juniper was one of the successful bidders in this bid and signed a PPA for the wind power project in December 2022.

According to India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the country currently has the fourth largest wind installed capacity in the world with a total installed capacity of 35.6GW. The government is also promoting wind power projects through private sector investment and by providing various monetary and financial incentives.

Of the Indian states, Gujarat has the second highest wind energy potential with 142.56GW.