Torrent Power to build RTC power plant in Maharashtra; SJVN bags PUA for 300 MW in J&K; Amplus Solar commissions 360 MW in Rajasthan; Jupiter plans 1.2 GW solar cell fab in Odisha; MNRE releases updated list of insurers.
RTC power plant in Maharashtra: Indian private utility Torrent Power has secured a letter of award (LOA) to set up grid-connected renewable energy power projects with or without storage in Maharashtra for the supply of 100 MW round-the-clock (RTC) power. The awarding entity is the Railway Energy Management Company Limited (REMCL). The project, with close to 325 MW wind and solar capacity for the supply of 100 MW RTC power, is expected to cost INR 27 billion ($326 million). It is scheduled to be commissioned within 24 months from the signing of a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Torrent has locked in the deal for a tariff of INR 4.25 ($0.051)/kWh.
PUA for 300 MW solar: Indian state-owned SJVN Limited has announced a power usage agreement (PUA) with Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL). SJVN's wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) will supply this power to JKPCL from the 1 GW Bikaner Solar Power Project (SPP) that it is developing in Rajasthan's Bikaner. The project is currently being constructing under the CPSU Scheme of IREDA under the domestic content requirement (DCR) mode. Power generated by the project will be used by government entities, either directly or through discoms. It will be commissioned by July 2024.
360 MW project online: Indian clean energy company Amplus Solar has commissioned a 360 MW solar power plant in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The inter-state transmission system (ISTS) connected plant is located at Jaimalsar village. It will supply power via the national grid to commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses. Amplus says it has used bifacial modules and single-axis trackers for the facility with 100% robotic cleaning systems for Project Jai.
Solar cell capacity: Jupiter International has plans to set up a 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing fab in Odisha, according to Mercom India Research. The fab will manufacture TOPCon solar cells exclusively when it comes up in Khurda region. Work is expected to begin in Q2/2024. The INR 2.5 billion ($30.2 million) solar cell project is one among the 27 industrial projects approved by the Odisha State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA). According to Mercom, this is in addition to the 1.3 GW integrated solar cell and module factory the company announced in a joint venture (JV) with AmpIn Energy Transition, also in Odisha. They are setting it up under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme tranche-II (see GW-Scale Solar Manufacturing Joint Venture In India). At present, Jupiter operates an 800 MW cell fab in Himachal Pradesh.
Insurance for solar: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released an updated list of insurers that provide products covering various risks associated with solar power plants. The list has been updated as per information provided by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Among these, while Tata AIG General Insurance provides insurance for both weather and solar module warranty, HDFC ERGO GICL and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited also provides insurance for solar panel warranty. IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance has PV sales policy coverage, whereas Cholamandalam MS GICL has solar plant protect policy. The New India Assurance provides its New India Solar Energy Insurance Policy as a package aimed to provide protection to both buyers and sellers.