The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has invited expression of interest (EoI) to develop 100 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects at Chandrapur, in the state of Maharashtra.

The projects will be located at the ash bund lagoon 1 and 2 near Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS). The last date of EoI submission is October 3, 2018.

When contacted, a MAHAGENCO official told Mercom, “MAHAGENCO has ownership of vast tracts of abandoned ash bunds that were being used to dump ash from thermal projects. Per our estimates, this area can be utilized to develop up to 500 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects.”

According the EoI document, “The scope of work for the developer will include the construction of solar PV project on the available land of abundant ash lagoon 1 & 2 for 100 MW capacity along with operation and maintenance and the evacuation of the power and its transmission up to nearest substation.”

MAHAGENCO has asked interested parties to submit their offers along with concept note, feasibility report, financial model, share (in percentage) to MAHAGENCO.

The official further said, “We are looking at all options. The land is ours; therefore depending on the EoIs submitted, we will decide whether it will be an EPC contract.”

MAHAGENCO aims at achieving a balanced mix of renewables and conventional energy sources.

Recently, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued a request for selection (RfS) for the setting up of 250 MW (50 MWx5) of grid connected solar PV power projects in Dondaicha Solar Park (Phase – I), located in Dondaicha of Dhule district.

In March 2018, MAHAGENCO tendered 50 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to be developed in the northern region of the state. Then in June 2018, MAHAGENCO tendered 750 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to cater to the agricultural (AG) feeder load of various substations across the state.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, Maharashtra has installed large-scale solar capacity of 1.3 GW to date and also has a project pipeline of 1.4 GW.