The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited’s (RUMSL) tender to develop 300 MW of floating solar projects (Phase II) at the Omkareshwar reservoir in Madhya Pradesh has been oversubscribed by 700 MW, according to Mercom sources.

The developers who participated in the auction were NTPC, SJVN, Tata Solar, Mahindra Susten, Eden Renewables, NHDC, and Hinduja Renewables.

RUMSL is a joint venture between the Solar Energy Corporation of India and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

The floating solar park has a total capacity of 600 MW. Amp Energy, NHDC, and SJVN were declared winners in the first phase of the auction held to allocate 300 MW. Amp Energy won 100 MW quoting a tariff of ₹3.21 (~$0.041)/kWh, while NHDC won 100 MW at ₹3.22 (~$0.042)/kWh. SJVN won the remaining capacity of 100 MW at ₹3.26 (~$0.043)/kWh.

The project will comprise six units of 100 MW each of grid-connected floating solar photovoltaic projects to be developed at identified locations at the Omkareshwar reservoir. RUMSL will provide the evacuating infrastructure for the projects.

The tender for the second phase was floated in July this year.

In October, the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission approved deviations to the bidding guidelines for developing the Omkareshwar floating solar power project (Phase II). RUMSL and Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company had jointly filed a petition for approval of certain deviations from the bidding guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power for developing the 600 MW floating solar project.

Availability of land is a challenge for many ground-mount solar projects. While floating solar projects do not face such impediments, installations have been slow. India has about 170 MW of floating solar projects in operation compared to 52 GW of solar installed in the country.

In April this year, RUMSL issued a request for proposal for consultancy firms to prepare a feasibility report of three reservoirs in Madhya Pradesh to develop floating solar projects.

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