Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from prospective project developers to set up of 10 GW of floating solar PV projects in a phased manner in the next three years. The last date of EoI submission is January 5, 2018.

Through this EoI, SECI intends to collect information about the feasibility of floating solar PV projects and prospective developers in the market to the enable auctioning of the capacity in future.

The EoI invitation comes in light of a reformed solar tender trajectory, according to which 77 GW will be tendered in a phased manner in three years. Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released a concept note of a proposal to build out India’s manufacturing supply chain, including polysilicon, wafers/ingots, cells, and modules.

The floating solar project developers will be assured of solar power off-take generated from the projects through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

In all likelihood, the PPAs for these projects will be sacrosanct as the SECI is planning to begin power trading for the energy generated from renewable energy sources.

The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate basis. SECI, in coordination with state-owned agencies/autonomous bodies, will identify different sites (water bodies and reservoirs) for the development of floating solar PV projects.

The selected floating solar project developers will be required to design, construct, and erect the projects and connect them with the identified state/central transmission utility substation, and test and commission the projects within the stipulated time-frame. The floating solar project developers will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all consents, clearances, permits, and approvals to develop and run the project.

The SECI has also issued an EoI to develop 20 GW of solar manufacturing in the next three years. This 10 GW of floating solar PV project capacity will also add to demand component and help in the growth of domestic manufacturing, which in turn will play an important role in the success of the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Image credit: Ciel & Terre