Project Overview

The Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park (KUSP) is a 1,000 MW utility-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic park. Located in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, it was among the largest single-location solar parks in the world when commissioned in 2017 and remains one of India's top solar generation facilities. 

The project was developed by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL). It is a joint venture between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI, 49%), APGENCO (41%), and NREDCAP (10%), as part of the Government of India's Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects scheme under the National Solar Mission. 

At INR 70 billion, the investment was structured collaboratively: APSPCL funded the park infrastructure (including internal roads, fencing, 220/33 kV pooling substations, and the 400/220 kV external grid substation). The four developers funded their respective generation facilities. 

PGCIL developed the external 400 kV transmission infrastructure. The result was a fully integrated, plug-and-play solar park model, where developers received a land lease with ready infrastructure, reducing their development risk and enabling rapid construction. 

The park generates approximately 2.1 billion kWh per year, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 700,000 tonnes annually. On a sunny day, the park produces more than 8 GWh, sufficient to meet the entire daily electricity demand of the Kurnool district. It is one of the top 10 solar projects in India and is a part of other such solar farm projects in Andhra Pradesh.

The park is particularly notable for two features. First, it demonstrated the 'Ultra Mega Solar Park' model at scale for the first time in India. This proves that a single-location, multi-developer solar park could be planned, developed, and commissioned within approximately two years. 

Second, it features innovative water conservation technology, including robotic dry cleaning panels and rainwater harvesting, in a drought-prone region above a stressed aquifer, setting a precedent for sustainable solar park management in India's arid south. 

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park Location

The Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is located in the Panyam Mandal of Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. It is approximately 36 km southeast of Kurnool town. Specifically, it is situated in the Gani & Sakunala villages, covering a total area of approximately 24 sq km (5,932.32 acres). 

The Kurnool district location was selected for its very high solar irradiance (among the highest in Andhra Pradesh), availability of barren, non-agricultural land in Panyam Mandal, proximity to existing 400 kV transmission infrastructure at Narnoor, and the existing state grid's capacity to absorb 1,000 MW of new generation. 

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park Location Map

Technical Specification

Project Background

The Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park emerged from the Government of India's December 2014 announcement of a scheme to establish at least 25 solar parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects across the country, targeting 20 GW of new solar capacity.

The initiative, as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, recognised that one of the main barriers to large-scale solar deployment in India was developer uncertainty around land, transmission, and regulatory approvals. 

The 'solar park model' addressed all three: state governments and their designated Solar Power Park Developers (SPPDs) would acquire land, build common infrastructure, and obtain environmental and transmission clearances, leaving private developers to focus purely on generation. 

NTPC Limited was appointed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the state-specific bundling scheme to run the tendering process, conduct competitive bidding (including reverse auctions), select solar developers, and sign PPAs for the park’s 1,000 MW capacity. It invited bids in two phases: 

• Phase‑I tender: 29 April 2015

• Phase‑II tender: 21 May 2015

It conducted a single-stage, two-envelope competitive bidding process with e-reverse auctions to drive down tariffs. The auction attracted strong competition, reflecting the growing maturity of India's solar sector. 

Construction moved rapidly. Land Lease Agreements (LLAs) and Infrastructure Support Agreements (ISAs) were signed between April and October 2016. With APSPCL's infrastructure (roads, fencing, and pooling substations) substantially ready by early 2017, all four developers were able to commission their generation facilities on time.

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Power Developer

Awards were made in December 2015 to four developers: 

• Greenko Energies Pvt Ltd (500 MW) at INR 4.63/kWh 

• SBG Cleantech/SoftBank (350 MW) at INR 4.63/kWh 

• Azure Power (100 MW) at INR 5.12/kWh 

• Prayatna/Adani Power (50 MW) at INR 5.13/kWh

Stakeholder Details

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park Funding Details

Approximately INR 70 billion was invested in building the Kurnool Solar Park. This financial breakdown is a collaboration between the stakeholders. The solar power developers contributed INR 60 billion, and the remaining INR 10 billion was sourced from APSPCL. The Union Government’s subsidy of INR 2 billion further supported the project. 

Furthermore, APSPCL collaborated with developers to gather INR 500,000 per MW from each developer. The fund collected was channeled into a local area development fund aimed at enhancing neighbouring villages, encompassing projects such as road upgrades, drainage improvements, and access to clean drinking water. 

Project Scope

The Project Scope of the Kurnool Solar Park is as follows: 

• Land Development: Acquisition, leveling, and development of approximately 24 km² (about 5,932 acres) of land in Panyam mandal, Kurnool district, for solar arrays and associated infrastructure. 
  

• Infrastructure Facilities: Design and construction of shared facilities, including internal roads, drainage, fencing, security systems, water supply, and administrative buildings for the entire park. 
  

• Transmission & Evacuation Infrastructure: Establishment of high-voltage substations, switchyards, and transmission lines (including 220 kV/400 kV infrastructure) to evacuate power to the state and national grid. 
  

• Operation & Maintenance Framework: Implementation of a coordinated operations and maintenance regime, including performance monitoring, grid compliance, and safety protocols across all project blocks. 

Project Timeline

Benefit

The following are the benefits of the project: 

• Produces Clean Energy: The project produces electricity without greenhouse gas emissions, displacing coal-based power and reducing India’s carbon footprint. 
  

• Boosts India’s Renewable Energy Target: As one of the world’s largest single-location solar parks at commissioning, it helped Andhra Pradesh and India move closer to national solar capacity goals under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
  

• Economic Benefits: Centralized infrastructure (common transmission, substations, roads) and bulk procurement reduced per-MW costs, enabling competitive solar tariffs and making solar more financially viable.
  

• Construction Jobs: The Solar Park will employ over 2,500 skilled and unskilled workers during its construction phase. 
  

• Operational Jobs: Upon its operation, the project employs 499 skilled workers, 228 semi-skilled workers, & 555 unskilled workers. Overall, it will create 1,282 operational jobs.
  

• Energy Security and Fuel Diversification: By adding significant solar capacity to the grid, the park reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and enhances the resilience of the regional power system. 
  

• Land and Water Efficiency: The solar park uses dry, low-agricultural-value land in a high-insolation zone and employs PV technology with minimal water requirements compared to thermal power plants.

Operation And Maintenance

The Asset Management Team at Greenko is responsible for overseeing the operations and maintenance of the Ultra Mega Solar Park. Around 100 engineers and technicians, trained in both AC and DC systems, carry out daily preventive and breakdown maintenance. Their goal is to ensure that the largest solar plant in Andhra Pradesh and the associated Grid Infrastructure function optimally. They are also responsible for efficient electricity generation. 

To minimize soiling losses, specialized devices clean the solar panels regularly. Heavy-duty equipment is used to clear plants that might cast shadows on the panels, disrupting their efficiency. 

The solar project has also implemented a rainwater collection system to fulfill all its water requirements. This encompasses tasks like cleaning solar panels and fulfilling other essential functions, all aimed at addressing concerns related to water scarcity. By adopting this sustainable technique, the solar park minimized its ecological footprint significantly.

Conclusion

The success of the Kurnool Solar Park is a significant step towards achieving India’s renewable energy target. With the success of this solar farm in Kurnool, governments at both the state and central levels are committed to coming up with more such mega solar projects in Andhra Pradesh.

As one of the world’s largest single-location solar parks at the time of commissioning, it has significantly contributed to Andhra Pradesh’s solar capacity targets and India’s national goal of expanding clean energy generation. 

The project underscores the effectiveness of the Ultra Mega Solar Park policy framework in attracting investment, streamlining land acquisition, and enabling rapid construction through centralized infrastructure provisioning. 

Track the Latest Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Projects in India for Business Opportunities.

Subscribe to our upcoming and ongoing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Projects in India to access reliable, high-quality insights on forthcoming and completed infrastructure projects across the country.

Our user-friendly platform provides essential details, timely updates, key stakeholder contact information, and business opportunities tailored for engineering companies, industry professionals, investors, and government agencies.

Start a free demo to take your business to the next level.