The 2 MW solar PV plant was built, owned and operated by Azure Power, a US independent power producer.

India’s solar power target under its National Solar Mission is 20 GW by 2022 with a short term target of 1300 MW in the next three years.

Located in the village of Awan in Punjab’s Amritsar district, approximately 40 km from Amritsar, the solar PV field will provide electricity to approximately 42 villages around Awan, under a 30-year power purchase agreement with Punjab State Electricity Board.

The PPA is part of the Government of Punjab’s promotion of solar power generation through private participation.

In addition to Punjab, Azure Power has made agreements with Gujarat and Haryana to of 22 MW, and the company is also in talks with state governments in Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan for another 30 MW of solar PV power. Azure Power says it is targeting 100 MW of solar power by 2013.