India set to meet ambitious solar targets with another 3 GW tender

This article is part of a daily series of IPP articles. If you want to know more about the latest power generation projects globally visit our IPP Today section. You can receive them by email on a daily basis.

In what seems like a race to meet the Government of India's ambitious target of commissioning 15 GW of solar power in the 2017-18 financial year (ending in March), various organisations have recently issued tenders for a cumulative capacity of 2,950 MW to be located across the country. This adds to the 7,225 MW solar tenders announced since the start of 2018.

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is seeking solar developers for three 250 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plants to be set up in Ananthapuramu Ultra Mega Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh, a state in the south-east.

The corporation are also inviting developers to bid for 2000 MW to be located anywhere in India, with the minimum eligible bid being 50 MW. These solar plants will be connected to the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).

The successful bidders of both projects will be develop them on a build, own, operate (BOO) basis, and sign 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the NTPC.

In addition, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, originally incorporated to develop, operate & maintain the 2400 MW Tehri Hydro Power Complex and other hydro projects, has issued a tender notice for between 50 and 100 MW solar projects to be located in Uttar Pradesh, which is in the north of the country.

Interested parties are invited to bid to install a minimum capacity of 10 MW at a single location and on not more than three suitable sites located in any district of the state. The winners of the tender will sign engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPC) contracts, plus 25-year operation and maintenance contracts.

Lastly, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is seeking bids for the design, engineering, procurement, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of 100 MW floating solar power also in Uttar Pradesh. The capacity is split between two 50 MW plants to be constructed on the Rihand Dam, also known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir, located in Sonbhadra district of the state. 

SECI has tendered the majority of the solar power made available to bidders this year, with a 3000 MW tender launched this month and just over 2000 MW issued in February. However, this is SECI's first floating solar tender of 2018. 

As well as the target for 2017-18, these tenders will help the Indian government achieve the targeted 100 GW installed solar PV capacity by 2022.