Ladakh

The region could, by 2050, cut greenhouse gas emissions from power, heat, transport and desalination which are expected to add up to more than 825 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent this year. Such a transition could be perfectly possible, technically and financially.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has extended the bidding for its solar-plus-storage project in Ladakh by one month. The revised deadline is now September 30.

The state-run hydropower producer has commissioned 89 MW hydropower projects in Leh and Kargil, and is eyeing another 155 MW hydro and a 50 MW solar project in the union territory.

The prime minister again emphasized the need for India to develop a domestic solar manufacturing industry and also urged officials to get on with plans to make Ladakh carbon-neutral.

The state-owned power producer has invited global Expression of Interest (EOI) for supply of hydrogen fuel cell based electric buses and cars—ten each—for pilot projects in Delhi and Leh. The last date for submission of EOI is May 15.

Prospective bidders for 34 MW solar project in Telangana and 14 MW solar plus storage project in Ladakh have been asked to submit any queries online as pre-bid meetings get cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdown. Further, bidding deadline for Ladakh project has been revised to June 1.

The government has been quick to announce major infrastructure projects for Ladakh, realizing the union territory’s potential for production of solar energy, which could be a boon for the entire country.

The project will be awarded to the bidder who quotes the lowest viability gap funding requirement. The upper limit for VGF to be quoted by a bidder is kept at Rs 130 million for 1 MW solar PV project with battery storage of 3 MWh.