400 MW India project win for Sembcorp: Sembcorp Energy India Limited (SEIL) has secured a letter of award (LOA) from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for a 400 MW utility scale solar project. Its renewables subsidiary Sembcorp Green Infra won the project in a 'closely contested auction' whose details the company did not reveal. The project will be connected to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RVPN) transmission in the state of Rajasthan. Power generated from the plant on completion in mid-2022 will be sold to SECI under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Sembcorp will fund the project through internal funds and debt. In November 2020, Mercom India Research said Sembcorp won a 400 MW PV project in Rajasthan in a SECI auction offering to build it up for INR 2.00 per kWh (see New Record Low Solar Tariff In India @ INR 2.00/kWh).
EESL & NHAI MoU for solar power projects: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for clean energy and energy efficiency projects at NHAI establishments and structures. As part of this agreement, EESL will undertake the work to set up solar power projects at NHAI buildings, structures and vacant land parcels as well as establish electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at toll plazas and buildings, among other tasks. The initiative is part of NHAI's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under which the effort is to reduce fossil fuel dependence, reduce emissions and achieve sustainable development all across toll plazas, highway lighting and other NHAI establishments.
IREDA's MoU with NHPC Ltd.: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) will provide its technical expertise to NHPC Ltd. to develop renewable energy projects under a MoU signed between the duo. IREDA will undertake techno-financial due diligence of renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation projects for NHPC and also assist it to develop an action plan to create and acquire renewable energy projects for the next 5 years. This follows IREDA's MoU with SJVN for green projects in December 2020 (see India PV News Snippets: MNRE, Visaka, Mitsui, REIL, SJVN).
REIL tender for solar cells: Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL) has launched a tender to procure 200,000 multicrystalline silicon solar cells each with 4.67W output. It has specified the size of the solar cells to be 156mm x 156mm and the type of cell as 5 busbar having a thickness of 200 +/- 20 μm including paste on back/front. It prefers anti reflection coating of PECVD silicon nitride in deep blue color. Last date to submit bids is January 23, 2021.
80 MW rooftop solar tender in Goa: The Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has invited solar EPC companies to empanel themselves for the development of 80 MW of rooftop solar PV capacity in the state. Empaneled agencies will be able to participate in rooftop solar tenders to be launched by GEDA for deployment in residential buildings and group housing societies or residential welfare associations (RWA) with an aggregate capacity of 80 MW. Operation and maintenance of the projects for 5 years is also part of the task. Interested companies can submit bids till February 2, 2021, as per tender notice.