India progresses with 2.5 GW solar developments
During last week, local media in India have announced updates regarding significant solar tenders in four different states of the country.
1.2-GW Jharkhand state solar tender
According to reports, Indian firm ReNew Power Ventures Pvt Ltd won rights over 522 MW of solar capacity in the 1.2-GW solar tender of Jharkhand state, located in the eastern part of India. The second most-successful bidder was local firm Suzlon, winning 175 MW. US renewables major SunEdison won 150 MW in total.
Tariffs ranged from INR 5.08/kWh (US$0.076) to 5.48/kWh for the bigger plants and between INR 5.29 and INR 7.95 per kWh for the small ones.
The developers will be in charge of securing the land for their facilities. All PV parks are to be commissioned within 13-18 months, depending on their size.
750 MW Madhya Pradesh state solar tender
According to reports, the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, is inviting bids for the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project comprising three 250 MW photovoltaic plants. The tender is expected to be over by June.
The winners will enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Delhi Metro Rail Corp and Madhya Pradesh Power Management Corp (MPPMCL). They will be required to complete the entire capacity they win in 18 months after signing the PPA.
A 50/50 joint venture between Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is in charge of implementing the project.
100 MW Rajasthan state solar tender
Local media said that Suzlon has won the development rights over 60 MW of photovoltaic capacity offered in a 100 MW reverse bidding process in the state of Rajasthan.
The auction was conducted by Indian state-owned utility National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The auction included 10 solar projects of 10 MW in total.
Janardan Wind Energy and Maharashtra Seamless won 20 MW of solar developments each.
Janardan Wind Energy offered the lowest tariff in the country to date of INR 5.06 (US$0.076) per kWh. Both Suzlon and Maharashtra Seamless set their rates at INR 5.07/kWh.
440MW Uttar Pradesh state solar tender
France's SolaireDirect, owned by ENGIE, has won a 75MW solar project in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh quoting viability gap funding (VGF) of INR7.435 million/MW (US$110,527).
Indian conglomerate RattanIndia Power was awarded earlier this week a 50MW project in Allahabad with VGF quoted at INR7.499 million/MW.
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) used a reverse auction process under India’s National Solar Mission to award these projects with a set tariff INR4.43/kWh (US$0.066) alongside VGF, which is a funding mechanism provided by the government of India.
SECI is awarding a total of 440MW in Uttar Pradesh and this is divided into seven different bids. Results for two of these have already been announced and five bids are yet to take place.
