The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has successfully auctioned 250 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects in Dondaicha Solar Park (Phase – I), located in Dhule district of Maharashtra.

Talettutayi Solar (Solar Arise) quoted ₹2.87 (~$0.0407)/kWh to develop 50 MW of solar PV power projects and emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder. A SECI official confirmed the culmination of the auction and said that the award of contract will take place after May 23, 2019, as they were only asked to complete the auction now.

Tata Power quoted a tariff of ₹2.88 (~$0.0408)/kWh to develop 100 MW of solar PV capacity and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) quoted a tariff of ₹2.91 (~$0.0412)/kWh to develop 250 MW of solar PV projects but will be awarded only 100 MW due to constraints of the bucket filling method applied to award contracts in reverse bidding.

An NTPC official confirmed NTPC emerging as the L3 bidder in the auction.

The SECI official also confirmed that there is no chance that this auction will be canceled as Maharashtra is willing to go ahead with the process and the Dondaicha Solar Park is ready. SECI had fixed the maximum tariff payable to the project developer (ceiling tariff) at ₹2.93 (~$ 0.042)/kWh. This appears to be another reason that these rates will be acceptable.

SECI had tendered the capacity in August 2018.

The L1 tariff quoted in this auction is ₹0.39 (~$0.0055)/kWh more than the L1 tariff of ₹2.48 (~$0.0349)/kWh in the auction held by SECI for 750 MW of solar power projects which are slated to be developed in Rajasthan.

The L1 tariff of ₹2.87 (~$0.0407)/kWh is ₹0.12 (~$0.0017)/kWh more than the L1 tariff of ₹2.75 (~$0.039)/kWh quoted in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL)’s auction in which 250 MW of solar projects were awarded to be set up at Dholera Solar Park (Phase V).

Image credit: Sterling and Wilson