NTPC Awards Only 300 MW Solar Out Of 1.2 GW Tendered

• NTPC has auctioned off its 1.2 GW solar power capacity selecting only one winner for 300 MW capacity, says Mercom India Research
• TBEA has secured project rights for the 300 MW capacity awarded for the winning tariff of INR 2.63 per kWh, beating SoftBank's SB Energy
• The APGCL of Assam has tendered 25 MW solar power capacity to be set up at Namrup Thermal Power Station
• Cochin Port Trust too is looking for companies to build rooftop solar and floating PV capacity

Chinese solar power transformer manufacturer TBEA Co., Ltd. is the sole winner of a 1.2 GW solar tender launched by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in August 2019, according to Mercom India Research (see NTPC Tenders 1.22 GW Solar Power Capacity).

Mercom says this win helps TBEA Ventures that supplies solar inverters to establish itself as a solar independent power procurer (IPP) in the Indian renewable energy market.

TBEA won this capacity for the winning tariff of INR 2.63 ($0.037) per kWh with the only other bid coming in for 300 MW capacity by SoftBank's SB Energy that quoted INR 2.65 ($0.037) per kWh. However, under the reverse auction there could only be one winner hence TBEA won by virtue of offering the lowest bid (L1).

Recently, NTPC floated a 1 GW solar PV grid connected tender on a 'develop-build-demonstrate-transfer' basis to be located anywhere in India (see 1 GW NTPC Solar PV Tender Under DBDT Scheme).

Assam tenders launched

In related tender news from India, Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) has invited bids from EPC contractors to set up a 25 MW solar PV plant at Namrup Thermal Power Station in the state of Assam. The scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement and supply, construction and erection, testing, and commissioning. Building the associated transmission system and comprehensive operation and maintenance for five years is also part of the job.

Last date to submit bids is November 30, 2019 and December 2, 2019 is when the bids will be opened. Tender details are available on Assam tender website.

Cochin Port Trust tender

Another government entity Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) under the central Ministry of Shipping, is scouring interest among EPC companies to set up rooftop solar and or floating solar power capacity under a RESCO model. All the capacity will be fed into the grid. Through this, CoPT aims to bring down its fossil fuel based electricity consumption and make its buildings self-sustainable.

For solar panel installation, initially some 14 blocks of residential buildings with flat roof and about 14 km peripheral water bodies will be made available at Cochin Port Trust in Kochi. The available area is about 14,000 m2 on both rooftop and water bodies.

The prospective winner will be required to identify the space on rooftop and water bodies and set up the plant on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis with 25-year operation and maintenance.  

The last date for bid submission is November 15, 2019. Tender details are available on CoPT website.