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The results of two solar auctions in India have been released this week, with a total of 1,750 MW allocated to nine developers.
The National Thermal Corporation of India (NTPC) has awarded Sprng Energy, Ayana Renewable Power and SB Energy the right to develop 250 MW solar photovoltaic power plants in Ananthapuramu solar park in Andhra Pradesh, a state in the south-east.
Sprng Energy and Ayana proposed tariffs of INR2.72/kWh (~US$0.0400) and INR2.73/kWh (~US$0.0402) respectively. SB Energy bid to entirely to develop the entire 750 MW being tendered, but at the slightly higher tariff, resulting in the company being awarded only 250 MW.
Several prominent Indian solar developers were unsuccessful, including Azure Power, Fortum Solar, Hero Future Energies, Mahindra Susten and ReNew Power.
In addition, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) allocated 1 GW of solar PV capacity to six bidders. Eligible projects could be located anywhere in India, providing that the project owners could connect them to the state's grid.
JLTM Energy India was awarded 20 MW capacity after proposing a tariff of INR2.71/kWh (US$0.0399). This is the lowest tariff proposed for a grid-connected solar PV project in Maharashtra. Mahoba Solar proposed the same tariff, successfully bidding for 200 MW capacity.
ReNew Solar Power and Acme Solar Holding each secured 250 MW at INR2.72/kWh. Tata Power Renewable Energy and Azure Power proposed the same tariff, and won 150 MW and 130 MW, respectively, though Azure bid to develop 150 MW.
This tender was surprisingly competitive - bids were submitted for a total 1,450 MW capacity. This is particularly positive as the tender was originally issued in December 2017, but cancelled and relaunched earlier this year due to a lukewarm response by developers.
The government of Himachal Pradesh, a state in the north of India, has approved amendments to its hydropower policy with the aim of reviving 737 stalled projects which have a cumulative capacity of 5,100 MW.
Read moreThe Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) has published a Request for Selection (RfS) for solar power developers interested in setting up ground-mounted photovoltaic power plants in the state, which is located in the west of India. The total capacity to be allocated is 1000 MW.
Read moreLightsource BP has formed a 50:50 joint venture with the Everstone Group, one of India’s leading private equity fund managers, to create a major fund management platform for green energy infrastructure in India, to be called EverSource Capital.
Read moreIn the past week, state government agencies of both Karnataka and Maharashtra, located in the south-west and west of India respectively, have re-launched solar tenders due to poor initial responses.
Read moreThe National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), part of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Government of India, has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for the country's first commercial offshore wind farm, to be located off the coast of Gujarat in the west, and have a generation capacity of 1 GW.
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