The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has retendered 650 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed at the Pavagada Solar Park located in the state’s Tumkur district. The bid-submission deadline is May 10, 2018.

The projects will be developed in blocks of 50 MW each and will be connected to dedicated substations being developed by the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited (KSPDCL).

In January 2018, KREDL had tendered 1,200 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to be developed at Pavagada. However, KREDL was able to auction merely  550 MW of the tendered capacity due to poor response from bidders amid various ongoing uncertainties in the solar sector.

The successful auctioning of this 650 MW will further add to Karnataka’s solar project pipeline. According to Mercom’s  India Solar Project Tracker, Karnataka has a solar project pipeline of over 1 GW.

When contacted, a KREDL official told Mercom, “Recently, the guidelines were amended to allow for the pass through of added cost for developers if duties are changed due to a change in law. This time we are expecting more responses and participation from bidders.”

“All the other guidelines and timelines pertaining to project commissioning and PPA signing remain the same as the initial 1200 MW tender, the official added.

A single bidder can bid for a minimum 50 MW and a maximum 650 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects. The projects will be developed on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis and the generated power will be sold to state Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) in Karnataka under  Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed for a period of 25 years.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, and operation of the projects.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, in the first phase of Pavagada Solar Park, 600 MW was auctioned in 2016 under the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II, Batch 2 and all the projects have been commissioned.

Mercom recently reported, Karnataka’s solar PV capacity crossed the 5 GW mark in the first quarter of 2018 to transform it into India’s top solar PV state.

Image credit: GCL Systems via Twitter