Government-owned lignite mining and power generation company NLC India has commissioned the first phase of a 300 MW solar power project with a capacity of 52.83 MW at Barsingar in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan.

The project’s part capacity has been declared commercially operational, and a commissioning certificate has been received from the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, NLC India said in a bourse filing.

NLC had invited bids to set up the 300 MW solar project in 2022. Tata Power Solar Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power, was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the project.

This project, part of the Central Public Sector Undertaking Program, is expected to generate over 750 million units of clean energy annually.

NLC India has targeted a solar capacity addition of 8,279 MW and wind capacity of 400 MW between 2025 and 2030.

The company operates solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 1,380 MW in Tamil Nadu and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as well as a 51 MW wind project in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

It aims to achieve a total renewable energy capacity of 10,110 MW and a total power generation capacity of 20,130 MW from all sources.

In July, NLC approved a proposal to invest up to ₹16.3 billion (~$190 million) in one or more tranches in its wholly owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables (NIRL). This investment will be utilized to support NIRL’s renewable energy projects via capital expenditure funding.

A month earlier, NIRL signed a joint venture agreement with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology (MAHAPREIT) to develop 5,000 MW of renewable energy projects in Maharashtra. These projects will span solar, wind, hybrid systems, floating solar, battery energy storage systems, and pumped storage, with an initial focus on developing 500 MW in the first phase. NIRL will hold 74% equity and MAHAPREIT the remaining 26%.