Solar developers take 700 MW retender issue to APTEL

The Delhi-based Appellate Tribunal for Electricity has reserved the order on Gujarat’s 700 MW solar auction issue as it heard the matter through video-conferencing on Monday.

Solar developers Tata Power, TEQ Green Power and Vena Energy Renewables Urja had approached the tribunal seeking urgent listing to get an interim relief against the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission’s order allowing Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd to quash its 700 MW auction and retender the capacity.

Notably, the auction for the 700 MW project, part of a 1 GW planned at Dholera Solar Park in Gujarat, had seen the capacity awarded to ReNew Power (200 MW), TEQ Green (200 MW), Tata Power (100 MW), state-run SJVN Ltd (100 MW) and Vena Energy Renewables (100 MW) at prices up to INR 2.81/kWh. The Letter of Award for the respective capacities was issued to developers in October last year. 

However, as GUVNL discovered a lower rate of INR 1.99/kWh in another auction recently, it filed a petition with the State electricity regulator to seek retendering of the 700 MW capacity, citing that the tie-up at a higher tariff of INR 2.78-2.81/kWh for 25 years under the present bid may have substantial financial implication on the consumers at large. It also mentioned that the PPAs for 700 MW capacity out of 1000 MW are yet to be approved by the [regulatory] commission, to seek order in its favour.

The Commission passed the order in GUVNL’s favour citing the Electricity Act’s objectives that competitive procurement of electricity will ultimately benefit the consumers. It said GUVNL might approach the Commission for the adoption of tariff afresh after taking appropriate action regarding bidding.