The state-owned Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India has commissioned 200 MW of grid-connected solar projects in the state of Tamil Nadu.

According to a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) filing made by NLC India, the commissioned capacity is part of the 500 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects currently under implementation in Tamil Nadu. NLC had commissioned 300 MW in May 2018.

In April 2018, Mercom reported that NLC India might have to bear a loss of ₹1.36 (~$0.020)/kWh for the 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects due to delays in commissioning as the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) declined to interfere and review the control period of the solar projects.

Earlier, NLC had tendered 500 MW (AC) of grid-connected solar in the state of Tamil Nadu. The state-owned company has mandated that each project would be a minimum of 50 MW, and the projects would be spread over a maximum of 10 locations in Tamil Nadu. Contractors would be selected through competitive bidding, and the projects will be developed on an engineering, procurement, and construction basis. The projects were to be commissioned within a one-year timeframe from the Letter of Award issue date.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, NLC India had entered into an agreement with Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to develop 500 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects and supply power for a period of 25 years.

Recently, NLC India announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to develop 2,640 MW of lignite-based thermal power projects and 1,000 MW of solar energy projects in the state.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, with this recent installation, NLC India has commissioned solar projects aggregating 640 MW and has a project pipeline of ~729 MW.

NLC India targets to develop 4 GW of solar projects by 2022.

Image credit: Azure Power