SECI Announces Tender for 2000 MW Solar Projects in India with 25 Year PPA
The Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has announced a tender to build 2000 MW of solar projects across India. The projects will be connected to the interstate transmission system and developed on a build-own-operate basis. SECI will sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with the successful bidders, and the power procured will be sold to various buying entities in India. The tender is open to new solar projects that are not yet commissioned or already accepted under any central or state schemes. Developers can submit a single bid for any quantity between 50 MW to the entire tendered capacity of 2000 MW, in multiples of 10 MW only. The total capacity allocated to a developer cannot exceed 2000 MW. The projects must be commissioned within 18 months from the signing of the PPA. The deadline for submission of soft copies of bids for the SECI’s 2 GW solar project tender is May 10, 2023, while the deadline for the submission of hard copies is May 12, 2023. The bids will be opened on May 15, 2023.
SECI Invites Bids for Up To 5 MW Rooftop and Ground-mounted Solar Power Projects
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited vendors to empanel for developing rooftop and ground-mounted solar power projects with a capacity of up to 5 MW. The projects will be developed in two categories – one for the residential sector on behalf of state implementing agencies and the other for government organizations under capital expenditure and renewable energy service company modes. The empaneled vendors will also have to ensure comprehensive operation and maintenance of the projects for five years. The last date to submit the bids is May 18, 2023, and the bids will be opened the following day. The bidders should have prior experience designing, supplying, installing, and commissioning grid-connected solar power projects.
West Central Railway Invites Bids for 12.5 MW Rooftop Solar Projects in Jabalpur, Bhopal, and Kota Zones
West Central Railway (WCR) has invited bids for the state-wise empanelment of agencies to install rooftop solar projects of 12.5 MW capacity at various locations in the Jabalpur, Bhopal, and Kota zones. The projects will be developed in two capacity ranges up to 100 kW and up to 500 kW. The last date to submit bids is April 25, 2023, and the projects must be commissioned within 240 days of receiving the work order. The developers must provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for 25 years. The cost of the tender documents is Rs. 34,810, and the tender processing fee is Rs. 75,000 per MW at the time of PPA. Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of Rs.10.68 lakh/MW and a performance security within 30 days of signing the power purchase agreement.
SECI Awards Performance-Linked Incentives Worth ₹139.4 Billion to Solar Module Manufacturers
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which is responsible for the development and promotion of solar energy in India, has announced the successful bidders who will receive a total of ₹13937.575 Cr under the second phase of the performance-linked incentive (PLI) program. The program is aimed at incentivizing the domestic production of solar modules in India with a target of manufacturing 39.6 GW of solar modules. The winning bidders will be eligible for the financial incentives based on their production capacity and efficiency of their solar modules. The auction has been divided into three baskets. In basket 1, a total of ₹7575.613 Cr has been allocated for facilities integrating polysilicon, wafer, cell, and module manufacturing of 15.4 GW capacity. In basket 2, a total of ₹5310.702 Cr has been set aside for facilities integrating wafer, cell, and module manufacturing of 16.8 GW and in basket 3, a total of ₹1051.26 Cr has been allocated for facilities integrating cell and module manufacturing of 7.4 GW.
Ministry of Power Releases Draft Scheme for Carbon Credit Trading in India
The Ministry of Power in India has released a draft titled “Carbon Credit Trading Scheme” for public feedback. The objective of the draft is to establish a framework for the Indian carbon market. Comments on the draft scheme can be submitted to the government until April 14, 2023. The proposed Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which was passed by the Indian Parliament, empowers the Central Government to specify a Carbon Trading Scheme in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The ministry is currently finalizing the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). The scheme outlines that an ‘Accredited Carbon Verifier’ is an agency accredited by the BEE to carry out validation or verification activities in relation to the CCTS. Carbon credit trading aims to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change. The ‘Carbon Credit Certificate’ (CCC) is the certificate issued to the registered entity by the central government, or any authorized agency, in the CCTS. Each certificate issued represents the reduction or removal of one tonne of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e).
Himachal Pradesh Signs MoU with HLC Green Energy to Become India’s First Green State by 2025
The government of Himachal Pradesh has signed a memorandum of understanding with HLC Green Energy to make the state the “First Green State” in India by 2025. The project will attract an investment of over Rs 4,000 crore and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 2,500 people. The initiative is expected to lead to the creation of skilled labor in the state. The MoU was signed by Director Industries Rakesh Kumar Prajapati and HLC Green Energy LLC MD Sanjay Sharma in the presence of Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan. Green hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut fertilizer prices, and contribute to the country’s economy through import substitution, according to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
