100 MW Solar Tender By EESL; UPNEDA Tender Results

• EESL has issued a call for 100 MW of solar power generating capacity to be developed within the state of Maharashtra
• It requires projects in the capacity range of 1 MW to 2 MW or higher to be set up within the premises of existing substations of MSEDCL
• In a related tender news, UPNEDA's 500 MW solar tender has received bids for 90 MW and has announced winners for 72 MW
• NTPC has secured 2 projects of 20 MW each for a tariff of INR 3.02 ($0.0434) per kWh

The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) of the Government of India has launched a tender for 100 MW of solar power generating system (SPGS) to be installed in the state of Maharashtra. Projects will be established with 1 MW to 2 MW or higher capacities at various substations/locations in the state.

These small-scale solar PV installations will be set up on open, unused lands within the premises of existing substations of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).

Job description includes design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing commissioning and operation and maintenance of the projects for 25 years. Bidding documents can be submitted latest till July 9, 2019. Detailed tender documents can be viewed on EESL website.

Another big tender strongly under-subscribed

A 500 MW solar PV tender launched by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) in January 2019 has received bids for only 90 MW capacity with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) as the lowest bidder (L1). The national utility offered INR 3.02 ($0.0434) per kWh to stake claim to 2 projects with 20 MW capacity each. Sukhbir Agro Energy bid for 50 MW but managed 32 MW for INR 3.05 ($0.0439) per kWh.

In all, UPNEDA has announced auction winners for 72 MW, according to Mercom India Research. Tariffs for this tender were capped at INR 3.05 ($0.043) per kWh (see UPNEDA Issues 500 MW Solar Tender).

Compared to the previous 550 MW auction concluded in December 2018 by UPNEDA, NTPC was the lowest bidder with INR 3.02 ($0.0434) per kWh tariff for 85 MW capacity (see INR 3.02/kWh Bid For 550 MW UPNEDA Solar Tender).

This week, the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) issued tenders to award unallocated capacity with a cumulative of 950 MW capacity for 2 projects that were undersubscribed the first time round (see GUVNL Issues Tender For 950 MW Solar).

Another big tender that was undersubscribed in recent times was SECI's 1.2 GW hybrid solar wind power auction in May 2019. It received bids for 900 MW and awarded 720 MW in all (see INR 2.69 Lowest Tariff For SECI Hybrid Tender).