NTPC Issues Tender for 1.2 GW of Solar Projects in Maharashtra

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has tendered 1.2 GW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed near the NTPC switchyards in the western region of Maharashtra. Each eligible bidder will be mandated to bid for a minimum of 50 MW capacity and the maximum capacity a single bidder can bid for is 600 MW or half of the entire tendered capacity.

The projects will be developed on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis. The scope of work for each winning bidder will include the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected ISTS-connected solar PV projects along with the successful operation and maintenance upon commissioning.

As per the tender notice, there will be no upper tariff ceiling for this tender. A slight contrast in approach to the nodal tendering agency SECI, which has maintained an upper ceiling tariff for all its tendered projects. More recently, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), raised the ceiling tariff for two of its auctions, to get higher participation in the auctions for wind, solar, and hybrid projects. Although the 10 paise increase seems unlikely to change the mood of developers.

The bid submission deadline is December 19, 2018, and the technical bids will open on December 20, 2018. In recent weeks, Solar Power Developers have raised a concern about the setting of upper ceiling tariffs in national solar projects. And NTPC, with its latest tender, has paid heed to the demands of the developers.

Last Month,  NTPC announced that it plans to start co-firing across all its coal-based thermal power stations in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut pollution sources. Using Biomass for generation of electricity in a move that they expect will reduce the GHG emissions from its thermal power plants. The move will serve two motives according to the sources, first will be the large-scale utilisation in power plants to reduce carbon emission from coal-fired power plants. And secondly, to reduce air pollution caused due to the burning of surplus agricultural residue in fields by creating an alternate market for its large-scale utilisation in power plants.

Last Month, NTPC also invited bids for the development of a wind-solar hybrid power project at the NTPC campus in Kudgi, Karnataka. The tender released was for the development of a 130 MW Solar and 60 MW Wind hybrid project to be developed on a turnkey basis.