The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has awarded 100 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed across five talukas of the state. The capacity awarded is part of the recently issued 200 MW solar tender for 10 talukas in Karnataka.

Per a KREDL release, Asian Fab Tec has won the bid to develop 20 MW of solar projects in each of the five districts by quoting a tariff of ₹2.89 (~$0.039)/kWh for each taluk.

Asian Fab Tec will develop 20 MW of solar project in Lakshmeshwar, Savanur, Haveri, Kushtagi, and Hanur taluks of Karnataka. The power will be sold exclusively to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) for a 25-year period.

This taluk-wise tender, which was issued in August 2018, is an exemplary measure taken by the state considering how large solar projects in the country are increasingly having to face land procurement issues.

Recently, KREDL issued a tender for the allotment of 100 MW of grid connected solar projects in Mundargi, Gajendragad, Maski, Kuragodu and Gurmatkal talukas under build-own-operate basis. The minimum capacity set for this tender was 20 MW while the maximum for any given taluka was set at 100 MW.

Previously, KREDL had tendered 860 MW of grid-connected solar PV to be developed across 43 taluks in Karnataka in December 2017, out of which PPAs for grid-connected solar PV projects totaling 640 MW to be developed in various taluks of Karnataka have been signed.

Earlier, KREDL allocated 1,200 MW of solar projects across 60 taluks with a ceiling of 20 MW per taluk under phase-V of state solar policy.

Following the example of Karnataka, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had tendered 1 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana. The solar PV projects were to be developed across 218 taluks in 20 districts in Maharashtra.

According to Mercom’s India Solar project Tracker, Karnataka has approximately 5.3 GW large scale solar in operations and around 2 GW of projects are under development.

Image credit: Vector Green