Performance Evaluation of Utility-Scale Solar PV Projects in the State of Gujarat, India

In India, the first solar power policy (GSP 2009) for the implementation of utility-scale solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects was launched by the state of Gujarat in the year 2009 with a targeted installed capacity of 4 GW by year 2015 but implemented 1 GW capacity. The state has the longest history of solar PV projects in the country. Several reports and research studies mention the underperformance of such projects in India. In this study, we have selected 15 operational projects of Gujarat, implemented under GSP 2009 of different capacities ranging from 5 MW to 40 MW. The actual energy generation of the projects has been compared with estimated generation through PVSYST using various meteorological databases namely NASA, Meteonorm, PVGIS, and Solargis. The comparison of CUF and LCOE has been made through the estimation of MPE. Out of 15 selected projects, 13 projects are found significantly underperforming (CUF < 19%). It is recommended that underperforming projects be repowered to enhance the generation as the tariff of these projects is very high (~0.16USD/kWh). Repowered energy would be the cheapest energy which will enhance the techno-economic viability of underperforming projects and also support the grid.