Odisha

State-owned hydropower producer NHPC Ltd has awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction work for a 40 MW PV project to Tata Power Solar Systems. The project—to be located in the Ganjam District of Odisha—is scheduled to be commissioned within 12 months.

Solar power generators have until June 22 to bid for the development of projects, on a build-own-operate basis. The ceiling tariff payable for the electricity generated has been fixed at INR3.08 INR/kWh in the tender.

Developers have until November 10 to submit bids for the grid-connected, ground-mounted solar generation capacity. The project will be set up on a build-own-operate basis in Kalahandi district to meet the electricity needs of the town.

The state-run hydropower producer is in talks with Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited to form a joint venture to explore and develop an aggregate 500 MW of floating solar power projects in the state.

The state, which is aiming to hit 2.2 GW of solar within two years, has received a Solar Energy Corporation of India proposal for 500 MW of floating project capacity even as it approves a 40 MW water-borne array put forward by the national solar body. The 500 MW suggested comes on top of a similar scale of floating PV planned across the state by public hydropower company NHPC.

Manufacturers and integrators of solar-based drinking water kiosks, solar trees, solar street lighting systems, and e-rickshaw charging infrastructure can submit their interest by August 29. 

The two entities shall form a joint venture to plan and develop an aggregate 500 MW of floating solar capacity in a phased manner, preferably in 50 MW packages, in the state.

August 26 is the last date to bid for engineering, procurement and construction work of 40 MW solar capacity, along with associated transmission line connectivity, in Ganjam district.

The plant—constructed and operated by Germany-headquartered IBC Solar Energy—is NextEnergy’s first investment in India as part of its strategy to acquire ready-to-build or operational solar projects across high-growth international markets.

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.