Lowest tariff of ₹3.25 (~$0.04471)/kWh emerged as the winning bid in the auction conducted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for 10 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on behalf of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC).

Sukhbir Agro emerged as the winner by quoting the lowest tariff to develop the entire 10 MW capacity. When contacted, a DMRC official told Mercom, “Yes, the capacity has been awarded to Sukhbir Agro which quoted ₹3.25 (~$0.04471)/kWh. Overall, there were four participants including the winning bidder.”

Sukhbir Agro’s deputy general manager Sumit Sood further informed, “Hero Future Energies, Sterling & Wilson and AMP Solar were the other bidders.”

Sood also said that the firm has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with NMRC at a tariff of ₹3.25 (~$0.04471)/kWh.

While 4 MW of the total capacity will be developed atop NMRC depots and metro stations, adjacent buildings and foot over-bridge (FOBs), another 3 MW will be developed on internal roads of depots and boundary walls. Moreover, a capacity of 3 MW will be installed over parking and viaducts.

The estimated cost of the project is approximately ₹600 million (~$9.33 million). DMRC had tendered the capacity in February 2018.

Of late, DMRC has been working towards reducing its carbon footprint by shifting its focus on renewable energy. The tactical shift to green forms of power are a sigh of relief for the national capital, which is reeling under the menace of choking air pollution.

Other recent efforts to raise DMRC’s solar capacity include a December 2017 tender issued by the organization for the development of 8 MW of grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV projects at various DMRC sites in the national capital. In July 2017, DMRC also tendered a 2.2 MW rooftop solar project to be developed at its premises.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, DMRC has a total installed solar capacity of 17.45 MW to date.

As reported previously by Mercom, Azure Power is already developing a 14 MW rooftop solar project for DMRC and, in April 2017, Rays Power Experts commissioned a 5.5 MW solar rooftop project for the organization.

Image credit: DMRC