15 MW solar power plant for Tata Steel: Tata Power’s wholly owned subsidiary TP Saurya Limited will develop a 15 MW solar power plant in Jamshedpur city of Jharkhand state for another Tata Group company, Tata Steel Limited (TSL). Power generated by the project will be purchased by TSL under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Scheduled to be commissioned within 6 months of PPA execution date, the project is expected to generate close to 32 million units of clean energy annually, enabling TSL to annually offset around 25.8 million kg of CO2 on an average. With this project, Tata Power’s renewable energy capacity will increase to 4,047 MW of which 2,687 MW is operational and 1,360 MW is under implementation.
RE MoU between India and France: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired Union Cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between India and France to cooperate on renewable energy in January 2021. Covering solar, wind, hydrogen and biomass energy, the MoU will enable the 2 nations to promote bilateral cooperation in these fields along with taking up joint research and technological projects. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said, “This MoU will help in the development of technological know-how in the field of Renewable Energy and thereby aid the process of attaining the ambitious target of 450 GW of installed Renewable Energy capacity by 2030.”
Solar cell tender from REIL: The Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL), Jaipur has launched a tender seeking multi crystalline silicon solar cells with 4.50W output each. These 150,000 cells should have a size of 156×156 ± 1.0 mm or 156.75×156.75 ± 1.0 mm with 4/5 busbar, and anti reflection coating of PECVD silicon nitride, as per tender terms. Last date to submit bids is March 15, 2021.
BHEL launches 10 MW tender: The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has launched a O&M contract tender for a 10 MW AC solar power project at Santaldih in West Bengal on behalf of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (WBSEDCL). Winner will be awarded a 5-year contract. Bids will be accepted till March 13, 2021, according to the tender issued on BHEL website. In 2016, BHEL bagged an order from WBSEDCL for 30 MW solar PV capacity to be set up as 3 projects of 10 MW each in Mejia, Santaldih and Chharrah regions in West Bengal (see 30 MW EPC Order For BHEL).
No more concessions on customs duty: The Ministry of Finance has withdrawn concessional customs duty certificates (CCDC) on items imported for setting up of solar power projects, with effect from February 2, 2021. Complying with this order, MNRE has stopped processing of all the applications submitted to it seeking such certificates. It has now asked solar power developers to upload the reconciliation reports in respect of such CCDCs issued before February 2, 2021 within prescribed time limit after project commissioning.
