GE to invest in India’s wind industry as part of a $1bn renewable energy plan

General Electric (GE) is set to invest in three Atria Power wind projects that are currently under construction, as part of its $1bn (£591m) commitment to expanding its renewable energy portfolio.

The three projects are set to produce a combined annual capacity of 126 megawatt (MW), and are spread across two locations. The first is a 25.6 MW project in the Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, located on India’s south eastern coast line. The second, containing two projects, both 50 MW, are located in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh – in the heart of India.

Raghuveer Kurada, business leader for India and South East Asia at GE Energy Financial Services, said, “Partnering with Atria Power, a strong and accomplished regional energy player, accelerates our global growth and India wind portfolio.”

Along with this, GE is also building 76 MW worth of wind turbines, with operations and maintenance agreements established.

The announcement was made by GE’s financial and investment arm GE Energy Financial Services, which in a statement showed its “support for the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s program to generate competitively priced grid-interactive wind power through feed-in tariffs.”

Sunder Raju, Director at Atria Power, said, “GE’s global experience, financial structuring capabilities and commitment to advanced technology complements our strategy to develop low-cost renewable energy projects with maximum energy output.”

India is an attractive investment opportunity for both western companies and eastern, as it has quickly become one of the largest international markets for renewable investment.

The newly elected prime minister Narendra Modi has committed strongly to sustainable energy, in order to lift India into a state of modern energy production – announcing a pledge to power India’s 400 million homes currently without electricity when he was elected.

Photo source: Braden Gunem via Flickr 

Further Reading:

Bombay Stock Exchange resumes trading after power glitch disruption

India’s new prime minister says every home will have solar power by 2019

Developing nations rapidly increasing renewable energy output – report

Indian Coca-Cola plant shut down for using too much water

Right-wing Bharatiya Janata party in landslide Indian general election win