The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended the guidelines for the implementation of 5,000 MW viability gap funding (VGF) program for solar under National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II Batch-IV.

The MNRE has stated, “The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) will tie up with buying entities and/or states for the entire capacity to be tendered, before the issue of request for selection (RfS).” Priority will be provided to the host state with the remaining power to be sold to other states or interested buying entities.

Earlier, the MNRE used to specify state-wise capacity based on commitments from states for off-take of 90 percent of capacity to be tendered by SECI, before the issue of RfS. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, to date 3,650 MW have been tendered under NSM Phase II, Batch-IV VGF Program.