Kolkata: Environ Energy-Tech Service Ltd, a Kolkata-based firm, which acquired Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s solar power business in India and Sri Lanka last year, will build a 250megawatt (MW) solar power plant in West Bengal.

The plant, which the state government and the company claimed would be the biggest of its kind in India, would cost Rs5,500 crore.

The plant, which would be owned by Bhaskar Silicon Ltd - a company founded by Environ Energy-Tech - will be built with technical support from Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG of Germany. ”Some US and German firms are likely going to take equity interest in Bhaskar Silicon,” said the company’s managing director Jyoti Poddar.

West Bengal’s power minister Mrinal Banerjee said the plant would be allowed to sell power at Rs12 per unit, or one kilowatt hour.

Besides generating 250MW of power, Bhaskar Silicon will also manufacture photovoltaic cells and polysilicon chips. Poddar said the project needs around 800 acres, which would be provided by the Haldia Development Authority - a civic body in East Midnapore district - from its existing land bank.

”The plant will eventually manufacture silicon chips (for computers). West Bengal already has a very strong market for such chips,” said West Bengal commerce and industries minister Nirupam Sen.