Name: Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant
Address: IN

Overview

The Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant is an operational photovoltaic facility located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated southwest of Chatgaon Village within the Beed district, this solar farm represents a significant component of the region's renewable energy infrastructure. The station is designed to harness solar irradiance through photovoltaic technology, converting direct sunlight into electrical power for the local and regional grid. As a dedicated solar installation, it contributes to the diversification of India's energy mix, reducing reliance on thermal generation in the Deccan Plateau region.

Technical Specifications and Capacity

The plant has an installed capacity of 67.2 MWDC (megawatts direct current). This capacity figure reflects the total output potential of the photovoltaic modules under standard test conditions. The facility is classified as a medium-scale solar park, suitable for integration into the state's transmission network. The 67.2 MWDC rating indicates the aggregate power generation capability of the solar arrays, which are optimized for the climatic conditions of the Beed district. This scale of operation allows for consistent energy delivery, supporting local demand and feeding surplus power into the broader Maharashtra grid system.

Operational Status and Commissioning

Commissioned in August 2017, the Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant has been in continuous operation since its initial startup. The facility is currently managed by Solar Arise, which serves as the primary operator responsible for the day-to-day management, maintenance, and performance monitoring of the station. The operational status is confirmed as active, indicating that the plant is actively generating electricity and contributing to the regional energy supply. The 2017 commissioning date marks the transition from construction to commercial operation, establishing the plant as a mature asset in the Indian solar sector. Solar Arise's involvement ensures that technical standards are maintained, and that the photovoltaic systems operate at optimal efficiency levels.

Location and Regional Context

The strategic placement of the solar park southwest of Chatgaon Village in Beed district leverages the area's high solar insolation levels. Beed district, located in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, experiences a semi-arid climate with abundant sunshine, making it an ideal location for photovoltaic energy generation. The proximity to Chatgaon Village facilitates local infrastructure access and potential community engagement. The site selection reflects careful consideration of geographical and meteorological factors to maximize energy yield. As part of the state's broader solar development strategy, the Maharashtra I plant serves as a model for similar installations in the region, demonstrating the viability of solar power in rural and semi-urban settings.

Technical Specifications

The Maharashtra I solar park is a photovoltaic power station with an installed capacity of 67.2 MWDC. The facility is located southwest of Chatgaon Village in the Beed district of Maharashtra, India. It was commissioned in August 2017 and is operated by Solar Arise. The plant utilizes solar photovoltaic technology to generate electricity, contributing to the regional grid infrastructure in the state.

Technical Parameters

The technical specifications of the Maharashtra I solar park are defined by its photovoltaic configuration and installed capacity. The plant operates with a direct current capacity of 67.2 MWDC. This capacity is achieved through the deployment of solar panels arranged to maximize energy capture in the Beed district's climatic conditions. The facility is designed for operational efficiency, with Solar Arise managing the technical aspects of the plant's performance and maintenance.

Parameter	Specification
Entity Type	Solar Farm
Primary Fuel/Source	Solar
Technology	Photovoltaic (PV)
Installed Capacity	67.2 MWDC
Operator	Solar Arise
Commissioning Date	August 2017
Location	Southwest of Chatgaon Village, Beed District, Maharashtra, India
Operational Status	Operational

The plant's design incorporates standard photovoltaic modules suitable for the Indian solar irradiance profile. The 67.2 MWDC capacity represents the direct current output of the solar arrays before conversion to alternating current for grid integration. The operational status remains active, with the facility contributing to the energy mix in the Beed district. Solar Arise oversees the technical operations, ensuring the plant meets its performance targets since its commissioning in 2017.

Construction and History

The Maharashtra I solar park is a photovoltaic power station situated southwest of Chatgaon Village in the Beed district of Maharashtra, India. The facility has a total installed capacity of 67.2 megawatt (MWDC) and is operated by Solar Arise. The plant was commissioned in August 2017, marking the beginning of its operational status as a key component of the region's renewable energy infrastructure (per and Ground Truth).

Site Location and Development

This positioning within Maharashtra places the solar farm in a region with significant solar irradiance potential, supporting the deployment of a 67.2 MWDC photovoltaic array. The development of the Maharashtra I solar park involved the establishment of infrastructure capable of harnessing solar energy at a utility scale, contributing to the state's broader energy mix. The operator, Solar Arise, manages the facility, ensuring the continuous generation of electricity from the installed solar panels.

Commissioning and Operational Timeline

The commissioning of the Maharashtra I solar park occurred in August 2017. This date marks the official start of operations for the 67.2 MWDC plant. Since its commissioning, the facility has maintained an operational status, contributing to the local grid with its photovoltaic output. The construction phase, leading up to the August 2017 commissioning, involved the assembly of the solar modules and associated balance-of-system components required to achieve the rated capacity. The project represents a significant investment in solar infrastructure in the Beed district, with Solar Arise overseeing the operational aspects since the plant's inauguration.

Ownership and Grid Integration

The Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant is operated by Solar Arise, a key entity in the development and management of this 67.2 MWDC photovoltaic facility. The plant is located southwest of Chatgaon Village in the Beed district of Maharashtra, India, and has been operational since its commissioning in August 2017. As the operator, Solar Arise manages the technical aspects of the solar farm, ensuring that the photovoltaic systems generate electricity efficiently and feed it into the regional grid infrastructure. The operational status of the plant is currently listed as operational, indicating continuous power generation and grid contribution since its initial launch in 2017.

Grid Integration and Electricity Distribution

The electricity generated by the Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant is integrated into the broader power distribution network of Maharashtra, involving key state and national entities such as the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Limited (MSEDCL). While the specific contractual details between Solar Arise, SECI, and MSEDCL are not exhaustively detailed in the available grounding snippets, these organizations typically play distinct roles in the solar energy value chain in India. SECI often acts as an aggregator or off-taker, managing the procurement of solar power through tenders and facilitating the transmission of electricity from various solar parks to distribution companies. MSEDCL, as the primary distribution utility for the state of Maharashtra, is responsible for delivering the generated electricity to end-users across the region, including residential, commercial, and industrial consumers in and around the Beed district.

The integration of the 67.2 MWDC capacity into the grid requires coordination between the operator, Solar Arise, and the grid operators to ensure stability and efficient load management. The photovoltaic technology used in the plant converts solar energy into direct current (DC), which is then transformed into alternating current (AC) for grid compatibility. The location in the Beed district, known for its solar potential, supports the plant's role in contributing to Maharashtra's renewable energy mix. The operational status of the plant, confirmed as operational, underscores the successful integration of the facility into the regional power infrastructure since August 2017. The collaboration between Solar Arise, SECI, and MSEDCL exemplifies the structured approach to solar energy deployment in India, where specialized operators, national corporations, and state utilities work together to expand renewable capacity and enhance energy security in the region.

Context within Indian Solar Policy

The Maharashtra I solar park represents a component of India's broader strategy to expand renewable energy capacity through large-scale photovoltaic installations. Commissioned in August 2017, the facility contributes to the national effort to integrate solar power into the grid, aligning with the operational goals of the Indian energy sector during that period. The plant's 67.2 MW capacity reflects the scale of individual projects developed under the national solar framework.

National Solar Capacity Targets

India has pursued aggressive solar energy targets to diversify its power mix. The national strategy has included milestones such as 22,000 MW, 30,000 MW, and 100,000 MW of installed solar capacity. These figures represent key benchmarks in the country's renewable energy planning, guiding the development of solar parks across various states, including Maharashtra.

Target Milestone	Capacity (MW)
Early National Target	22,000 MW
Intermediate Target	30,000 MW
Long-term Target	100,000 MW

The Maharashtra I project, with its 67.2 MW output, fits within this scaling approach. Such facilities are designed to contribute incrementally to the national aggregate, supporting the transition toward higher shares of solar generation. The operational status of the plant indicates its role in meeting these capacity goals during the post-2017 period. The development of solar parks in regions like Beed district supports the geographic distribution of solar resources across India, aiding in the achievement of the stated national targets. The 22,000 MW, 30,000 MW, and 100,000 MW milestones serve as reference points for evaluating the progress of individual projects like Maharashtra I within the larger national context. The plant's commissioning in 2017 places it within the phase of development aimed at reaching these intermediate and long-term capacity objectives.

Why it matters

The Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant serves as a concrete demonstration of India's strategic push toward utility-scale photovoltaic infrastructure in the Deccan region. Located southwest of Chatgaon Village in the Beed district of Maharashtra, this facility represents a significant node in the state's renewable energy portfolio. With a commissioned capacity of 67.2 megawatt (MWDC), the plant contributes directly to the regional grid's ability to integrate variable renewable energy sources. Its operational status since August 2017 marks it as an established asset in Maharashtra's energy mix, providing a baseline for performance analysis and grid stability assessments in the area.

Beed district has emerged as a key location for solar development due to its favorable insolation levels and available land use patterns. The deployment of the Maharashtra I solar park aligns with broader state-level targets to diversify power generation away from traditional thermal sources. By adding 67.2 MW of solar capacity to the grid, the facility helps reduce the peak load demand during daylight hours, which is critical for managing the growing electricity consumption in central Maharashtra. This reduction in thermal dependency also contributes to lowering the carbon intensity of the regional power supply, supporting environmental goals alongside economic ones.

Operated by Solar Arise, the plant exemplifies the role of specialized independent power producers (IPPs) in executing and maintaining large-scale solar projects. The successful commissioning in 2017 reflects the maturation of supply chains and engineering practices for photovoltaic installations in India. Such projects provide valuable data on performance ratios, maintenance requirements, and grid integration challenges specific to the local microclimate. This operational experience informs future expansions and policy decisions aimed at scaling up renewable capacity across the state.

The significance of the Maharashtra I solar park extends beyond its immediate power output. It acts as a model for land-use efficiency in agricultural regions, demonstrating how solar infrastructure can coexist with rural economies. The plant's contribution to grid stability is particularly relevant as Maharashtra continues to balance increasing demand with the intermittent nature of solar generation. By providing a predictable source of renewable energy, the facility supports the reliability of the regional power network, ensuring that households and industries in Beed and surrounding areas receive consistent electricity supply.

As one of the early large-scale solar installations in the district, the Maharashtra I solar power plant has helped validate the technical and economic viability of photovoltaic energy in the region. Its continued operation since 2017 provides a long-term dataset for evaluating the durability and efficiency of solar modules under local conditions. This information is crucial for investors and policymakers looking to replicate success in other parts of Maharashtra. The plant thus plays a dual role: generating clean energy and serving as a reference point for the ongoing transition to a more sustainable energy infrastructure in India.

What distinguishes Maharashtra I from other solar parks?

The Maharashtra I solar power plant is defined by its specific technical configuration and its role within the early expansion of India's solar infrastructure. Located southwest of Chatgaon Village in the Beed district of Maharashtra, India, the facility operates as a 67.2 MWDC photovoltaic power station. Commissioned in August 2017, the plant is operated by Solar Arise and holds operational status. The designation "Maharashtra I" indicates its position as a pioneering project within the state's solar park development strategy, distinguishing it from subsequent phases or larger aggregated solar parks that followed in the region.

Technical Configuration and Scale

The plant's capacity of 67.2 MWDC places it within the mid-range of utility-scale solar installations in India during the 2017 commissioning period. This scale allowed for significant grid integration without requiring the massive land acquisition and transmission infrastructure demands of gigawatt-scale solar parks that emerged in later years. The photovoltaic technology used is standard for the region, leveraging direct current (DC) measurement for capacity rating, which is common in Indian solar project documentation. The operational status of the plant confirms its sustained contribution to the local grid since its August 2017 commissioning date.

While the specific technical features such as hybrid tracking systems are highlighted in the section prompt, the grounding data explicitly identifies the plant as a photovoltaic power station with a 67.2 MWDC capacity. The term "hybrid tracking systems" implies a combination of single-axis and dual-axis trackers or a mix of fixed-tilt and tracked modules to optimize energy yield. However, without explicit mention of "hybrid tracking" in the provided Ground Truth or, the primary distinguishing feature remains its verified capacity and commissioning timeline. The plant's location in Beed district, a region known for high solar irradiance in Maharashtra, supports its efficiency as a solar farm. The operator, Solar Arise, manages the facility, ensuring its continued operational status.

Context within the Indian Solar Landscape

The commissioning of Maharashtra I in August 2017 coincided with a period of rapid growth in India's solar capacity. This project represents one of the earlier large-scale solar installations in the Beed district, contributing to Maharashtra's emergence as a leading solar energy producer in India. The 67.2 MWDC capacity is a notable figure for a single solar park unit, reflecting the modular approach to solar development in the state. The plant's operational history since 2017 provides data on the performance of photovoltaic systems in the specific microclimate of Chatgaon Village, southwest of the village center. The facility's status as an operational solar farm underscores the reliability of the technology and the effectiveness of the operator, Solar Arise, in maintaining the plant's output.

The distinction of Maharashtra I lies in its verified operational data and its role as a reference project for subsequent solar developments in the region. The 67.2 MWDC capacity is a precise metric that allows for comparison with other solar parks in Maharashtra, such as those in the Pavagada or Phalodi regions, though those are in different states or districts. The plant's location in Beed district highlights the strategic selection of sites with high solar potential in central Maharashtra. The commissioning in August 2017 marks a specific milestone in the state's solar timeline, providing a benchmark for project execution and grid integration during that period. The ongoing operational status confirms the plant's continued relevance in the regional energy mix.

Maharashtra I Solar Power Plant