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					</table>NTPC Green Energy (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC</a>, has invited expressions of interest from India-based or global offshore wind power companies to form a consortium to develop offshore wind power projects in India.
NGEL plans to collaborate with a partner company with knowledge and experience in offshore wind project development across the globe.
In the long term, the consortium is expected to help NGEL develop in-house expertise and subsequently develop solutions for the execution and maintenance of offshore wind projects.
With the help of these projects, NTPC intends to reach a renewable energy capacity target of 60 GW by 2032.
The last date to submit the bids is August 14, 2023. Bids will be opened on August 16.
To be eligible, the bidders must have commissioned at least 200 MW of offshore wind power projects globally. They should have operation and management experience of a minimum of 500 MW of cumulative capacity of offshore wind turbines.
They should have at least three years of experience in owning, operating, and decommissioning offshore wind energy projects. They should also have a minimum of five years of project management experience.
The company should have managed marine surveys for offshore wind development and commissioned offshore wind transmission systems for at least 50 MW projects.
The company must have in place policies for environment, health and safety, quality assurance, anti-bribery, antifraud, anti-slavery, and anti-collusion. They should not have any major pending litigation or be in breach of national security.
The net worth of the bidders must be a minimum ₹12.5 billion (~$151.74 million), and their annual turnover for the last three financial years must be a minimum ₹5 billion (~$60.69 million).
They must also have a plan in place to meet the funding requirements for the projects and be experienced in raising ₹5 billion (~$60.69 million) to ₹10 billion (~$121.39 million).
Under the agreed capital contribution for the development of the projects, NGEL will provide milestone funding on mutually agreed terms.
In June last year, R.K Singh, Union Minister for Power and New &amp; Renewable Energy, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-tender-lease-sea-bed-4-gw-of-offshore-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that bids for offshore wind energy blocks of 4 GW annually for three years would be issued annually. Starting the financial year 2022-23, the bids will be released for projects to be developed in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
Following the announcement, in November 2022, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/bids-for-12-gw-of-offshore-wind-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a draft tender to select wind power developers for leasing sea-bed areas to develop 4 GW of offshore wind power projects off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
In May 2023, the Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ists-waived-offshore-wind-green-hydrogen-ammonia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extended</a> the purview of inter-state transmission charges waiver to include offshore wind projects to facilitate the implementation and expansion of these projects.

NTPC Invites Bids to Form Consortium to Develop Offshore Wind Projects

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					</table>The U.S. Department of Energy (<a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOE</a>) announced the launch of a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Accelerator Consortium, a $20 million initiative aiming to rapidly reduce the cost of the second most common photovoltaic (PV) technology in use globally after silicon.
Led by the University of Toledo, First Solar, Colorado State University, Toledo Solar, and Sivananthan Laboratories, the consortium will be administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>). It will help the country to boost the deployment of American-made solar technologies.
The NREL team aims to make CdTe solar cells more competitive globally. Its broad research plans include CdTe doping strategies and characterizing and exploring new CdTe contacting materials. The DOE is working in collaboration with the NREL to enable a bifacial CdTe module that absorbs light from both the front and back sides of the modules.
The DOE stated that the consortium would work to improve the continued cost and efficiency of the CdTe technology. The consortium comprises experts chosen through a competitive solicitation released by the NREL in 2021.
The $20 million initiative by the DOE will help the U.S. expand the production of CdTe modules and PV material while supporting the domestic CdTe supply chain. To bolster America&#8217;s competitiveness in this technology, NREL will serve as a resource, support, and technical analysis center for the consortium as it develops a technology.
DOE&#8217;s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports innovative research to overcome the current technological and commercial barriers to CdTe cells. SETO has also awarded funding for the research, development, and demonstration of methods that would enhance the reliability of the CdTe technology while lowering costs.
The DOE, through NREL and longstanding partnership with First Solar, has been a leader in CdTe technology as CdTe solar cells were first developed in America.
According to DOE, CdTe technology will pave the way for the U.S. solar sector to expand domestic production of panels by limiting the risk of being overtaken by low-cost foreign competition.
Last month, First Solar and French renewable energy developer Akuo <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-indian-airports-taking-steps-to-reduce-carbon-footprint/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a deal for the supply of solar modules, leveraging First Solar&#8217;s Cadmium Telluride thin film module technology platform.
The Biden administration <a href="https://mercomindia.com/us-56-million-innovation-solar-manufacturing-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a $56 million fund for solar manufacturing and recycling, targeting cost-effective energy and creating ample jobs.

US Forms $20 Million Consortium to Accelerate Research in Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral development bank, has offered a loan of $60 million (~₹4.3 billion) for a 500 MW solar project in Oman. The independent power project is located at Ibri.
The total cost of the project is expected to be $400 million (~₹28.5 billion). The solar project is being developed by Shams Ad-Dhahira Generating Company. The commercial operation date of the project has been scheduled for June 1, 2021.
Oman Power and Water Procurement Co (OPWP) awarded the project to a consortium led by International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power). The other sponsors are the Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and Alternative Energy Projects Corporation (APEC).
The project is being implemented on a build, own and operate model under a bilateral offtake arrangement by OPWP for 15 years.
The primary objectives of the project are to increase the availability of renewable power generation capacity, contribute to fill the gap in the peak demand, and reduce the dependence on gas and other fossil fuels for electricity generation. The results of the project will be measured through an increase in renewable power generation capacity in the country, delivery of electrical energy generated by the project, and greenhouse gas emissions provided by the project.
Mercom had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/kuwait-saudi-consortium-wins-500-mw-solar-oman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> recently that a consortium of Kuwait and Saudi Arabian companies won the bid to develop 500 MW of large utility-scale solar independent power projects located at Ibri in Oman, built at an approximate value of $400 million.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/oman-500-mw-solar-international-consortia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In November 2018,</a> Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) had received bids from three international consortia for the $400 million solar project. The request for a proposal for the development of Ibri II Solar IPP was issued on June 4, 2018.  The project was expected to generate enough power to supply 33,000 homes and offset 340,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Image credit: Atlas Renewable Energy

AIIB Offers $60 Million for Oman’s 500 MW Solar Project

The Government of Bangladesh (<a href="https://bangladesh.gov.bd/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoB</a>) has awarded a 55 MW solar power project to a consortium led by <a href="https://www.metito.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Metito Group</a> together with Jinko Power and AlJomaih Group.
The project will be developed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis under a 20 years’ concession agreement.
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had earlier announced the consortium as the lowest bidder with a competitive tariff of $0.0748/kWh — the lowest tariff ever reported in Bangladesh states the company.
According to the company, the consortium will build the power project in Rangunia, Chattogram, on the land provided by the power board and plans to commission the project by the second half of the year 2021.
Renewable energy in the form of biomass is the main source of primary energy in the country, comprising about 35-60% of total primary energy use. As <a href="https://mercomindia.com/bangladesh-develop-solar-power-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported previously</a> by Mercom, Bangladesh has a target to install 2.47 GW of renewable energy projects by 2021. A significant amount of this capacity will be developed through solar and wind projects.
Recently, it was reported that the International Finance Corporation, the financial arm of the World Bank, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ifc-help-bangladesh-develop-35-solar-project/">collaborated</a> with the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) of Bangladesh to develop a 35 MW solar project.  This partnership will see the development of the solar power plant in the Kushtia district of the country. The pilot project, which is to be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model, will be developed through competitive bidding and will showcase the project as a viable model of a solar power project in Bangladesh involving the private sector.
In December 209, the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh Limited (<a href="http://egcb.teletalk.com.bd/home.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EGCB</a>), an enterprise of Bangladesh Power Development Board, floated a tender for 50 MW (AC) of solar power projects at Sonagazi located in the country’s Feni district. According to the tender document, Bangladesh has received financing from the <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank</a> towards the cost of the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Project. It intends to apply part of the fund for the 50 MW solar project at Sonagazi.
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Image credit: Greenskies

Bangladesh Set to Develop a 55 MW Solar Project in Chattogram

Government’s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (<a href="https://www.eeslindia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EESL</a>) has issued a tender for 200 fast chargers along with three years’ on-site warranty and annual maintenance contract. The tender, extendable up to 10 years, will follow international competitive bidding process.
The bidder will be responsible for the location survey, planning, supply, installation, and commissioning of fast chargers. The last date for the submission of bids is April 30, 2019 and technical bids will open on the same date.
This initiative is called ‘Demand-Side Energy Efficiency Investment Project,’ and a consortium of two private entities (or a combination of private limited, limited or government companies) will be eligible to bid. However, proprietorships or individuals won’t be eligible to bid.
“In case where the bidder is a consortium, relevant combined experience of all the members of the consortium will be considered provided that all the consortium members are manufacturers/suppliers of the electrical equipment related to battery chargers, storage and AC to DC and DC to DC converters and metering and have relevant experience for meeting the requirement above”, mentions bid document.
A bidder should be profitable in at least two years out of three previous financial years, and their average annual turnover should not be less than ₹1.4 billion ($20.22 million).
Of late, several agencies have announced their foray in the electric vehicle charging segment in the face of rapid uptake of electric vehicles in various states.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-tender-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This month</a>, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) also invited bids to set up charging stations for electric vehicles including buses and four-wheelers, on a turnkey basis. Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited <a href="https://mercomindia.com/reil-tender-270-ev-charging-stations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also issued a</a> tender to set up 270 electric vehicles charging equipment across various locations in the country.

EESL Floats Tender for 200 Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers

To reduce the dependence on coal-based power in African countries, a consortium including InfraCo Africa and Smart Energies International, has come together to develop a 60 MW solar project in the African country of Chad.
The consortium has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Chad’s Ministry of Energy and the national utility La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNE) for the development of the project.
The PPA will help to develop the Djermaya Solar Project by enabling the project to raise construction financing. InfraCo Africa, part of the <a href="http://www.pidg.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)</a>, has committed $3 million to the development of the project.
According to a statement by InfraCo Africa, Djermaya Solar is one of the first solar IPP projects in Chad. This project will be delivered in two phases of 32MWp and 28MWp, which will gradually integrate power into Chad’s national grid. The first phase is due to start delivering power in 2020.
Aldwych Africa Development Limited (AADL) will be the developer of the project on behalf of InfraCo Africa (a majority shareholder in the Djermaya Solar Project) apart from <a href="http://smart-energies.eu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart Energies.</a>
Hugues Antoine Guinoiseau, director of Smart Energies International, said in a media statement, &#8220;This PPA marks the beginning of a long collaboration between a consortium led by Smart Energies and InfraCo Africa, the SNE and the Chadian government. The energy needs are very important in Chad – needs mostly satisfied today by polluting energies. In a country with strong sunlight like Chad, solar energy appears as a great means to expand access to a clean energy. We are happy to contribute to its deployment in Chad.”
Chad, like many other African countries, relies on expensive heavy fuel oil and diesel for its electricity. This makes the country vulnerable to supply failures and global price fluctuations.
As a result, many development focused banks are actively financing green projects across the African continent. For instance, the African Development Bank (<a href="https://www.afdb.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AfDB</a>) recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/african-development-bank-solar-loan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved a $1.5-million grant</a> from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support the Nigerian government’s implementation of Phase 1 of the Jigawa 1-GW Independent Power Producer (IPP) Solar Procurement Program.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/ndb-300-million-loan-south-africa-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently</a>, the New Development Bank (NDB), an initiative by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations, has approved a $300 million loan for sustainable development projects in South Africa.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/world-bank-fund-kenya/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom previously reported</a> that the World Bank <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/04/26/kenya-world-bank-approves-180-million-to-support-energy-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> $180 million in assistance to Kenya in order to improve the financial health of the Kenya Electricity Generation Company Limited (KenGen) and to strengthen private sector financing in the of the East African country’s energy sector.

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