Maharashtra

Grid-connected solar plants in capacities ranging from 250 KW to 3.5 MW are to be installed at various sub-stations of state-owned Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. Bidding closes on August 12.

Currently, the independent power producer has over 500 MW of open access solar portfolio, with leading IT and manufacturing giants among its client base.

RK Singh told the upper house of the Indian parliament yesterday the nation had added 780 MW of new generation capacity in the last two years. The share of renewables in India’s power mix is rising too, but not fast enough to ensure electricity supply for all.

The power generated from the captive project in Solapur city of Maharashtra will be supplied to NTT Com-Netmagic’s data centres across the state.

State-owned Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has invited bids to set up a cumulative 50 MW capacity of grid-tied, ground-mounted solar plants at various locations in the state of Maharashtra. The plants, in capacities of 500 KWp to 10 MWp, are to be set up in turnkey mode. Bidding closes on July 24.

Analysis of the solar pumping programs being rolled out across five states backs claim switching irrigation systems to PV could give the nation a huge leg-up towards its renewable energy ambition.

With Karnataka withdrawing open access waivers and the policy not replicated elsewhere, corporate buyers are increasingly favouring group captive projects that are exempt from the cross-subsidy surcharge—the largest and most unpredictable component of grid charges for open access power.

Earlier, the state had planned to set up floating solar plants at Ujani and Irai dams but had to shelve the projects due to ambiguity on the project implementation as well as revenue sharing, and the high cost involved, respectively.

India’s Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has invited bids from domestic and international players for setting up of small grid-interactive solar plants ranging from 500 KW to 2 MW at lands of state-owned utilities. The cumulative capacity, to be installed in turnkey mode, is 40 MW for Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh each and 20 MW for Jharkhand. The state-run energy service company is also mulling to install an aggregate 200 MW of grid-connected solar rooftop across 5,000 state-owned buildings in Maharashtra.

Cumulatively valued at Rs 520 crore, the projects include a 50 MW plant for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd, a 75 MW plant for Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd and a 10 MW plant for Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd.