Grids & Integration

Having won a 100 MW floating solar project last month, state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has added another 25 MW from NTPC to emerge as the largest EPC player in India’s floating solar segment.

The move is the latest attempt by the newly-elected state government to reverse renewable energy commitments made under the previous administration.

The high-level committee formed by Andhra Pradesh government to review and renegotiate the signed power purchase agreements with wind and solar power developers has the potential to impair the cash flows of projects in the sector.

Independent power producer KPI Global Infrastructure has received Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation’s approval to enhance solar power evacuation from 30 MW to 70 MW (30 MW existing + 40 MW additional capacity) at 66 KV Amod Substation of district Bharuch in Gujarat.

Under an MoU signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India, grid-connected rooftop solar systems totaling 3-4 MW capacity will be installed on more than 200 police establishments across the capital.

Long regarded as a solar pioneer, the state has now announced grand plans to shoulder the burden of 17% of the nation’s clean energy ambition as India races to install 175 GW of clean energy capacity in just three-and-a-half years.

Unlike the other, India-wide 1.2 GW tender, rolled out simultaneously, the delivery point for these projects should be chosen from designated inter-state transmission system substations in Madhya Pradesh.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to set up 1.2 GW of grid-connected solar under the fifth phase of its national interstate transmission system program. The projects – to be established on a build, own, operate basis – will be awarded through e-bidding and a reverse auction with a tariff ceiling of Rs2.65/kWh. Bidding closes on July 31.

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.

Global bids are now invited to set up 2 GW of solar manufacturing capacity linked to 6 GW of inter-state-connected solar power projects. The projects—to be developed on ‘build-own-operate’ basis—shall be awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding followed by e-reverse auction. Tariff ceiling is fixed at Rs 2.75/kWh for a period of 25 years. Bidding closes on July 26.