• MSEDCL received lowest winning tariff of 2.71 INR ($0.0401) per kWh in the 1 GW solar PV tender it launched in May 2018
  • Lowest winning bid of 2.71 INR ($0.0401) per kWh was offered by two companies JLTM Energy India and Mahoba Solar, winning 20 MW and 200 MW, respectively
  • Biggest winners in terms of capacity were ReNew Power and ACME Solar, each securing 250 MW
  • High interest in tender was triggered by government allowing a solar power projects ‘pass through option’ in case new duties are imposed

In the latest tender results revealed in India, the lowest winning tariff was revealed to be 2.71 INR ($0.0401) per kWh. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) auctioned the entire 1 GW solar power capacity it tendered in April 2018 (see 1 GW PV Capacity Tendered In Maharashtra).

This, according to Mercom India Research, is the lowest solar tariff for a grid connected solar PV project in the state of Maharashtra. Mercom had earlier reported that the tender was oversubscribed by 450 MW, receiving 1,450 MW of total bids. MSEDCL attributes the high interest among developers to a  ‘pass through option’ of costs in case of implementation of any new duties.

The lowest winning bid of 2.71 INR ($0.0401) was offered by JLTM Energy India, the local subsidiary of French EPC provider and developer Technique Solaire, and Adani’s Mahoba Solar UP Private Limited. While JLTM won only 20 MW capacity, Mahoba secured 200 MW for the same winning tariff.

Other winners were ReNew Power, ACME Solar, Tata Power Renewable Energy and Azure Power, each winning different capacities for the same winning tariff of 2.72 INR ($0.0402) per kWh. The largest batches of 250 MW each were won by ReNew Power and ACME Solar.

In the recently concluded NTPC auction for 750 MW PV in Andhra Pradesh, the lowest winning tariff was at a very similar level – 2.72 INR ($0.0403) per kWh (see Three Winners In 750 MW Andhra Pradesh Auction).