Lockheed Martin has reportedly expressed its interest in setting up solar battery manufacturing facility in Dholera SIR (Special Investment Region), located about 80 kilometers from Ahmedabad.
According to Indian Express, Jai Prakash Shivahare, managing director, Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL) speaking at the sidelines of a Defence Conclave organised by CII said “We had interacted with Lockheed Martin at the Defence Expo in Chennai and they said they will be very interested in Dholera… They have shown interest in setting up a solar battery storage unit.” He further added “We have invited them to visit the site and then we will take this up further… They are planning to come in June.”
This development comes at a time when the state government has proposed to set up 5GW solar plant in Dholera, which is said to the world’s largest solar park. “The rates of solar power have gone below Rs 3 per unit and it makes a lot of sense to store this power that is available only in day-time,” said Shivahare.
DSIR is biggest of the eight smart cities proposed to be built on the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Dholera is now set to have the country’s largest solar park.