India’s biggest coal producer secures first solar PPA

In its maiden venture into solar power generation, state-run Coal India Limited will set up a 100 MW plant and sell the electricity produced to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd for 25 years.

April 26, 2021 Uma Gupta

Coal India has dipped its toe into solar.

Image: Coal India Limited

Coal India Limited, which accounts for around 80% of the country’s domestic coal production, has announced it has signed its first power purchase agreement (PPA) for the sale of solar electricity. The coal producer signed the PPA with state utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) to sell the power generated by the 100 MW solar plant for INR2.20/kWh for 25 years.

In its maiden venture into solar power generation, Coal India secured the 100 MW project in a 500 MW reverse auction conducted by GUVNL which also saw NTPC, Sprng Energy, and Tata Power’s TP Saurya allocated generation capacity at the same price.

With a capital investment of INR442 crore, Coal India will execute the 100 MW project through a solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. In a back-to-back arrangement, the coal company had already issued the tender to finalize the EPC company. The project will be executed within a year from the date of placement of the work order, Coal India said in a statement.

The fossil fuel business is following counterpart NLC by entering the solar market.

Coal India Ltd (CIL) this month announced two new business units: CIL Solar PV and CIL Navikarniya Urja, with both intended to capitalize on the growth opportunities in solar. CIL Solar PV Limited will manufacture ingots, wafers, cells and modules.

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