SJVN Green Energy, Juniper Green Energy, Tata Power Renewable Energy, SAEL, and Avaada Energy were declared winners in Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s (MSEDCL) auction to procure power from 500 MW of grid-connected intrastate solar projects (Phase-VII) on a long-term basis.

SJVN and Juniper won 200 MW and 75 MW capacity, respectively, with each quoting ₹2.90 (~$0.036)/kWh. Tata Power and SAEL won a capacity of 150 MW and 50 MW, respectively, with each quoting ₹2.91 (~$0.037)/kWh. Avaada quoted ₹2.91 (~$0.037)/kWh for 300 MW but was only awarded 25 MW under the bucket filling method.

The state distribution company (DISCOM) floated the tender in June this year to procure 500 MW of solar power on a long-term basis from grid-connected intrastate projects.

The prices discovered in this auction were comparatively higher than those discovered in the previous MSEDCL solar auction. The prices reflect the concerns of developers over the uncertainties in the solar market arising from goods and services taxes (GST) and supply chain constraints.

ACME Solar Holdings and ReNew Solar Power were declared winners in MSEDCL’s auction to procure power from 500 MW of solar projects (Phase VI) on a long-term basis. ACME Solar Holdings won a capacity of 300 MW quoting ₹2.42 (~$0.0320)/kWh. ReNew Solar Power won 200 MW quoting ₹2.43 (~$0.031)/kWh.

MSEDCL will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the bidders selected for the purchase of solar power for 25 years from the scheduled commercial operation date in case of proposed or new solar power projects or for 25 years from the date of execution of the PPA for existing solar power projects.

The solar power generator will be responsible for the design, finance, procurement of land, engineering, procurement, construction, and operation & maintenance of the project per the PPA provisions.

MSEDCL has stated that the declared capacity utilization factor (CUF) should in no case be less than 19% over a year. The generator should maintain generation to achieve annual CUF within + 10% and ‐ 15% of the declared value till the end of ten years from the commercial operation date. The annual CUF should be a minimum of 17% and within +10% and ‐ 20% of the declared value of the annual CUF until the end of the PPA duration of 25 years.

MSEDCL recently invited bids to procure power from 500 MW inter or intra-state grid-connected solar power projects through long-term contracts.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, MSEDCL has floated tenders for 19.8 GW of solar projects.