The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has awarded the contract to set up 10 MW solar power capacity for its operations to Sukhbir Agro Energy Ltd., and will procure clean power at a rate of INR 3.25 ($0.045) per kWh. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had launched the 10 MW tender under the so-called RESCO model for NMRC's depot and metro stations in February 2018 (see Delhi Metro 10 MW PV Tender).
The winning tariff is the lowest across all metro networks in the country; the cost of purchasing power from other sources would cost around INR 6.00 ($0.083) per kWh.
Local daily The Times of India (TOI) reported Sukhbir Agro will deploy solar panels to supply solar power to all 21 metro stations on the Aqua Line of NMRC.
The lesser known Sukhbir Agro beat heavyweights as Hero Future Energies, Sterling & Wilson and AMP Solar to win the auction, according to Mercom India Research. Out of the 10 MW, at least 4 MW will be developed atop NMRC depots and metro stations, adjacent buildings and foot-over bridges, 3 MW will go up on internal roads of depots and boundary walls, and remaining 3 MW will be installed on parking and viaducts.
The entire project is expected to cost INR 600 million ($9.33 million), as per Mercom.