Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), a state-backed developer of energy projects in India, has today issued a tender totaling 860 MW for the deployment of 43 solar farms.
The projects are to be dispersed equally across the state of Karnataka, each one a 20 MW installation, located in an individual taluk, which are small administrative districts.
Developers are permitted to bid for solar projects as small as 3 MW, and no larger than 20 MW, with an upper limit of 200 MW per 10 taluks set.
The final date for submission of bids for the capacity is January 8 next year, KREDL has confirmed.
The state of Karnataka is among the leaders of India’s solar growth, and has a 6 GW target for 2022. However, the government of Karnataka is eager to spread the solar deployment across the state, and has stipulated that no taluk can exceed 200 MW of solar PV capacity.
Earlier this year it was reported that up to 750 MW of solar capacity had to be retendered in Karnataka at the Pavagada Solar Park due to poor deployment conditions pertaining to a lack of substations impacting on power evacuation, and chronically poor infrastructure.
Since then, solar activity in the state has been slow, so KREDL’s announcement today could well offer a timely boost for the state.
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There is no dearth in Karnataka for major policies and newer projects. What is not understandable is the motive of government behind such large scale and mega tenders. Every official in government is corrupt and no tender is finalized on merit. The developers and contractors who have money power and muscle power have a field day and make hay in all such tenders.
Karnataka requires a separate body like Election commission to oversee processes and finalize orders on merit. Corrupt developers go to any extent to turn matters to their favour and put the bodies of government such as Discoms into financial losses.