Procurement

The winning bid, for 300 MW of generation capacity by Spanish developer Solarpack in a 2 GW auction is 3.3% lower than the previous record of Rs2.44.

A 2 GW tender conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India has reportedly concluded with prices of Rs2.36-2.38/kWh, according to a tweet which emerged this afternoon.

The state-owned power generator plans to procure around 1 GW of crystalline solar modules in the current financial year. The requirement will increase to 2-2.5 GW capacities per year in subsequent years. 

The country—aiming for a renewable power target of 450 GW by 2030—has emerged as the world’s largest and most competitive clean energy auction market. 

The government needs to rationalize and ensure uniformity of Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) regulations across the country for the seamless integration of renewable energy. 

The levy on modules will then almost double to 40% within a year and cells will see a similar rise, from an initial rate of 15%.

Only domestic manufacturers with multicrystalline solar cell production capacity of a minimum 30 MW per annum are eligible to apply. Bidding closes on June 27.

The hydropower producer—which recently diversified into solar power projects—has invited global applications as it seeks to empanel EPC agencies and module manufacturers for its solar projects. June 22 is the last date to lodge the interest.

The developer is reported to have exercised an option to double the 4 GW of solar generation capacity and 1 GW of cell and module production facilities it secured in the manufacturing-linked solar tender carried out by the Solar Energy Corporation of India in November.

The projects—to be developed in three phases of 1 GW each—are expected to be completed by year 2022-23. While the first and the third phases will be developed under public-private partnership basis, the second phase will be on the ownership model of REMCL and eligible for capital subsidy under the CPSE scheme.