Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has commissioned a 5 mw grid-connected solar power plant at Shivasamudram near Mandya of Karnataka. This is the single largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Karnataka.
 
 The plant has been set up by BHEL for State-owned power producer, Karnataka Power Corporation (KPCL), at a cost of Rs 62 crore.
 
 With the commissioning of this unit, the company has set a new record in its solar PV business in a single year, by commissioning 15 mw of solar power plants in various parts of the country during fiscal 2011-12, marking a significant contribution to the nation’s green initiatives.
 
 For the Shivasamudram project, BHEL’s scope of work included design, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of the solar power plant. In addition, BHEL will also operate and maintain the solar power plant for a period of three years.
 
 The solar power plant is operating satisfactorily since synchronising with the main grid and DC power generated by the solar panels is converted into AC by inverters and fed into a 66 kV grid through transformers. Crystalline silicon photovoltaic (C-SI PV) technology has been used for the solar power plant, which is well-proven and has the longest operational experience across the world.
 
 The power plant consists of arrays of photovoltaic panels made of crystalline silicon solar cells that absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity that will be fed into the main grid.