The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has invited bids to develop a 250 MW solar project at the Kadapa Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh. The project is to be developed under the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II, Batch-II, Tranche-I; and will mark the completion of Tranche-I. The last date for bid submission is December 7, 2016.

An official at NTPC confirmed that this is a retendering. The project had initially been tendered in March 2016, but was scrapped due to a delay. The project is to be commissioned over a 13-month period, from the date of signing of power purchase agreement (PPA).

With this 250 MW project, NTPC has completed its quota of installations (3,000 MW) mandated under NSM, Phase-II, Batch-II, Tranche-I.

Mercom’s source at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) commented, “Since Tranche-I is complete, the MNRE will soon launch Tranche-II.” Upon being asked about the delay in launching Tranche-II, the MNRE official continued, “The bundling program that MNRE had utilized in Tranche-I has diminished in relevance and the Ministry is thinking of other options and reviewing them. Once that is done, Tranche-II installations will begin in full force.”