The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has invited bids for 550 MW of grid connected solar PV power projects through tariff based competitive bidding process.

The last date for bid submission is November 14, 2018.

A UPNEDA official confirmed the issue of the solar tender to Mercom, adding, “In this 550 MW tender, 500 MW will be bought by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (UPPCL) and 50 MW will be bought by Noida Power Company Ltd. (NPCL)”.

“We have also put a ceiling tariff of ₹3.10/kWh(~$0.042/kWh),” added the official.

Mercom previously reported that the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) approved a request for the procurement (RfP) and a PPA for 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects put forth by the UPNEDA.

UPNEDA had sought approval of ceiling tariff of ₹3.25 (~$0.044)/kWh for the tender along with the revised RfP and PPA. Upper tariff ceiling was set to be ₹3.25 (~$0.044)/kWh if safeguard duty is included, and if not included, the tariff ceiling will be ₹3.10 (~$0.0424)/kWh.

The minimum capacity for each solar power project will be 5 MW. Any bidder can apply for a minimum of 5 MW and a maximum of 550 MW. The power purchase agreement (PPA) will be signed for a period of 25 years with a single fixed tariff.

In case of projects being set up in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal region of the state, government will provide the subsidy per kilometer based on the lengths of the transmission as per the Solar Energy Policy of Uttar Pradesh 2017.

Recently, Mercom reported that the Lowest (L1) tariff of ₹3.17 (~$0.043) was quoted in the recent solar auction held by the UPNEDA for 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects.

Image credit: MMEPL

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer