NTPC awards Asia’s first integrated solar thermal contract in India

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The total market potential for integrated solar thermal in India is estimated to be 1.7GW. Credit: NTPC

Indian energy firm Thermax and German concentrated solar power (CSP) company Frenell have been awarded a contract for what is claimed to be Asia’s first integrated solar thermal power plant by India’s largest utility NTPC.

The plant will be located at at Dadri in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and will integrate a concentrated solar field with the Dadri coal-fired power station. Construction started on 4 November with completion scheduled for September next year.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Frenell will provide its CSP technology, which is based on flat mirror Fresnel collector principle. On a surface of 33,000m2, the solar field will feed 14GWh of solar thermal energy per year into the water-steam cycle of a 210MW unit of the power station. The mirrors concentrate the sunlight on absorber tubes and heat the fluid up to 250°C. The heat generated from the solar field will then heat the feed water supplied to the steam generator, allowing for lower coal consumption.

Under the competitive tender for the project, this technology won out over parabolic trough and solar towers alternatives.

Thermax is responsible for EPC of the project and integration into the coal-fired power station.

“This project is of high strategic importance for India as it introduces a new option for power generating companies to improve the efficiency of their coal-fired power stations. This solution will also contribute to the national target of at least 3% solar share of total power generation by 2022,” says M.S. Unnikrishnan, CEO, Thermax. “Compared to green-field CSP plants, this is a cost efficient application as the existing thermal power station infrastructure can be used.”

The total market potential for integrated solar thermal in India is estimated to be 1.7GW.

Frenell is also planning to localize its solar field component manufacturing and supply chain in India.

Read Next

October 6, 2025
Indian infrastructure company focused on rooftop and ground-based solar power installations, PVV Infra has secured solar power orders worth INR7.9 billion (US$90 million) through two of its subsidiaries. 
October 6, 2025
Indian solar developer ACME Group has established a new subsidiary to manage its renewable equipment manufacturing business, under which it is planning to scale production of TOPCon PV modules.
October 6, 2025
Rajasthan government will develop 500MW/2,000MWh of standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a four-hour single-cycle configuration and extended operational life.
October 2, 2025
The Indian solar industry has 86GW and 182GW of solar cell and module manufacturing capacity, respectively, expected to be commissioned by 2027.
October 2, 2025
The Indian Department of Commerce has launched an antidumping investigation on solar encapsulants originating or exported from South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.
September 29, 2025
Indian solar manufacturer Waaree has said it does not expect to pay additional duties on its solar cell imports to the US, following the start of an antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland