Canadian Solar Inc. says it secured Power Purchase Agreements in mid-March for 80 megawatts (ac) of solar power projects with the Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI), a public-sector undertaking of the Government of India.

Ontario-based Canadian Solar was awarded these projects under a 450 MWac solar capacity tender in the state of Maharashtra, through a competitive auction. These projects are scheduled to start operations by late 2017 and will generate electricity for SECI over the next 25 years.

The project adds to Canadian Solar's India project pipeline that stands at 110 MWac.

Earlier in March, the company said it received $20 million unsecured funding from the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund to support the development of projects in Brazil, including the 191 MWp Pirapora I Project in the state of Minas Gerais.

The Pirapora I Project is under construction and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017. Once operational, the project will have the capacity to generate as much as 391.3 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year.

In October 2016, Canadian Solar sold an 80% interest in the project to EDF Energies Nouvelles' local business unit, EDF EN do Brasil. Canadian Solar's investments in Brazil include a solar module manufacturing facility with annual production capacity of 380 MW. The company also says it plans to develop a further 207 MWp of solar energy projects with 20-year power purchase agreements.

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 and manufactures solar photovoltaic modules and provides solar energy solutions. Since its founding Canadian Solar has delivered more than 18 GW of modules to over 90 countries.