India gets its first 24x7 solar-plus-storage powered town in Modhera, Gujarat

Data-driven digital solutions provider for renewable energy plants, GreenPowerMonitor (GPM) has provided the integrated onsite control, monitoring, data management, and display solutions for India's first 24x7 solar power enabled with battery energy storage and smart control in the town of Modhera, Gujarat.  

The 6MWp solar photovoltaic system (solar PV) and 15MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) hybrid project has become the first project in India that will provide 24/7 solar energy to its 1400 households helping them meet their day and night electricity requirements. PM Modi had set a vision for making Modhera - the home of the Sun Temple, a protected archaeological Hindu complex dedicated to the sun deity Surya – self-reliant using sustainable solar power. 

"Combining solar PV and batteries in a hybrid project is challenging, but opens a wide range of possibilities to provide 100% renewable and clean energy to local communities. At GPM we are proud of this community livelihood improvement flagship project, that can be replicated in other regions with similar needs," said Sergi Bosque Garcia, Regional Manager for MEA & India at GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company.

"We hope that this becomes a standard solution and a benchmark in the renewable energy industry."

GPM has implemented the Power Plant Controller (GPM PPC) and Energy Management System (EMS) solutions for this project.

GPM PPC and EMS are serving as the master controllers for the project enabling different automatic and manual controls. GPM noted that "the project architecture has really pushed the boundaries of complex controls in a renewable energy site." GPM controls and management systems allows black start, islanding, anti-islanding, energy shifting, state of charge (SOC) management and balancing, as well as frequency and voltage support.

The following systems are also integrated and monitored into the GPM solutions:

• 271 no's x 1kW Rooftop Solar System on the residential building in Modera with API (application programming interface)
• 1610 no's smart meters
• EV charging station
• 3rd party system

"Solar PV is a great way for India and other countries to move beyond fossil fuels and meet their emission trajectory goals. Once the technology truly scales up, there is no limit to the amount of clean energy that can be distributed through solar power, and we are starting to see its life-changing potential with projects like the Modhera Sun village electrification," said Juan Carlos Arévalo, Chief Executive Officer at GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company.

Mahendra Susten worked as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for this project. GPM's Power Plant Controller (GPM PPC) and Energy Management System (EMS) solutions were chosen by Mahindra Susten to implement complex functions and high-level customized control philosophy for the project.

"This was a very prestigious project for Mahindra Susten, and we acknowledge the major contribution by GPM in successfully delivering it," said Pramod Kalyanshetty, Head Procurement and Chief Risk Officer at Mahindra Susten.