Major Events that Impacted the Indian Solar Sector in 2024

SECI Tenders 125 MW/500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Kerala

Daily News Wrap-Up: APTEL Upholds Wind Power Firms’ Right to Terminate PPAs

Rajasthan Issues Empanelment Tender for 511 MW of Rooftop Solar Projects

APTEL Upholds Two Andhra Pradesh Wind Power Companies’ Right to Terminate PPAs

UltraTech Cement to Source Wind-Solar Hybrid Power from Clean Max

Daily News Wrap-Up: SECI’s 1,000 MW ISTS Solar Auction Results

Waaree to Set Up 300 MW Electrolyzer and 3.5 GWh Lithium-ion Cell Projects

Funding and M&A Roundup: EV Charging Platform JET Charge Receives $45 Million

Project Finance Brief: Recurrent Energy Secures Financing for 171 MW Solar Project


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/seci-tender-1-5-gw-ists-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Solar Energy Corporation of India has invited bids to set up 1,500 MW inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power projects in India under Tranche XIV.</strong></a> The last date to submit bids is February 23, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 28. Bidders have to submit a bid document fee of ₹29,500 (~$354) and a bid processing fee of ₹500,000 (~$6,014) + applicable taxes for each project for quoted capacity from 50 MW up to 90 MW and ₹1.5 million (~$18,041) + applicable taxes for each project from 100 MW and above-quoted capacity.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rec-limited-lead-national-rooftop-solar-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public infrastructure finance company REC Limited has been designated as the overall implementing agency for the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program, which aims to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by March 2026.</strong></a> REC will be responsible for executing the program prepared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and coordinating with all stakeholders across the country for its effective implementation. The Phase II of the program, with an outlay of ₹118.14 billion (~$1.42 billion) for both the residential segment (Component A) and distribution companies (Component B), was initially launched in 2019 to achieve 40 GW capacity by 2022.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-green-tender-epc-land-300-mw-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NTPC Green Energy has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package with land for up to 300 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects anywhere in India</strong></a><strong>.</strong> The scope of work includes identification, acquisition, and complete transfer of ownership or lease of encumbrance-free land to NEEPCO. The developer must also identify and arrange grid connectivity to the ISTS substation. The last date to submit the bids is February 27, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day. Bidders must pay ₹22,500 (~$270.68) towards the cost of bidding documents.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-tender-6-35-mw-rooftop-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam has invited bids from enlisted developers to install 6,352 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects on various buildings of public sector undertakings under the Department of Defense Production in the southern region.</strong></a> The last date to submit the bids is February 1, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 2. The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, engineering, testing, assessment of roofs, water arrangements, electricity security, and determination of the optimal capacity for setting up the solar power systems.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/lowers-sterling-wilsons-q3-net-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy’s consolidated net loss was reduced by 37% year-over-year (YoY) to ₹623.9 million (~$7.5 million) for the third quarter of the financial year 2023-24.</strong></a> In the corresponding period last year, the company had run up a loss of ₹991.5 million (~$11.92 million) due to reduced contributions from the domestic and international EPC business segment. The company reported a total revenue of ₹6.1 billion (~$73.3 million), a 46% YoY increase. The revenue generated from the domestic EPC segment was ₹4.7 billion (~$56.5 million).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/unjustified-load-shedding-attract-penalties-discoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Minister for Power and New &amp; Renewable Energy R K Singh has warned distribution companies that unjustified load-shedding will be penalized going forward, calling the practice of cutting off electricity supply to different regions “an insult to the people.”</strong></a> “We have said that consumers have rights to 24*7 electricity and that if there is any gratuitous load-shedding, then penalties have to be levied, and compensation has to be given,” he said at a review meeting of the power sector.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/renewables-germany-electricity-consumption" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>In a first, renewables covered the majority of electricity consumption in Germany, accounting for nearly 59.7% of the net public electricity generation in 2023.</strong></a> The share of renewables in the electricity mix coming from renewables stood at 57.1%, according to an analysis by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The total photovoltaic installations in 2023 are expected to exceed 14 GW when the full-year data, including December, becomes available. As a result, energy generation from lignite and coal fell sharply by -27% and -35% respectively.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/meyer-burger-shut-german-module-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meyer Burger Technology, a Europe-based solar cell and module manufacturer, has started the process of shutting down its manufacturing facility in Freiberg, Germany.</a></strong> The closure is a part of the company’s plan to cut its losses in Europe and move the manufacturing base to the U.S. The company stated that maintaining a full-scale solar manufacturing operation in Europe is no longer viable and announced plans to shift focus to the U.S. market, which promises faster growth with lower capital demands.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ampin-ppa-nagpur-metros-rooftop-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Independent power producer AmpIn Energy Transition has signed a power purchase agreement of 25 years for 6 MW rooftop solar projects with the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation</a></strong> for the Nagpur Metro Rail Project. The solar projects will be developed in two packages of 2.5 MW and 3.5 MW. The projects will be distributed across 13 metro stations, two depot buildings, one administration building, and three station track walls.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: SECI Tenders 1.5 GW ISTS Solar Projects


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					</table><p>NTPC Green Energy (NGEL), on behalf of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (<a href="https://neepco.co.in/hi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEEPCO</a>), a wholly-owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC</a>, has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package with land for up to 300 MW of inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power projects anywhere in India.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes identification, acquisition, and complete transfer of ownership or lease of encumbrance-free land to NEEPCO. The developer must also identify and arrange grid connectivity to the ISTS substation.</p>
<p>The developer will also be responsible for all the EPC work of the project, along with performance testing for guaranteed generation at the interconnection point.</p>
<p>The selected developer must also oversee the projects’ operation and maintenance for three years from the date of commissioning.</p>
<p>The last date to submit the bids is February 27, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.</p>
<p>Bidders must pay ₹22,500 (~$270.68) towards the cost of bidding documents.</p>
<p>For a quoted capacity of 100 MW, bidders must submit a bid security amount of ₹50 million (~$601,510); for a quoted capacity of more than 100 MW and up to 200 MW, they must submit ₹100 million (~$1.20 million) and for more than 200 MW and up to 300 MW quoted capacity, they must submit ₹200 million (~$2.41 million) as bid security.</p>
<p>Bidders should have developed or designed, supplied, erected, or supervised the commissioning or commissioned grid-connected solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 40 MW or higher. Out of this, at least one project should have been of 10 MW or higher capacity at a single location, and it must have been in operation for at least six months before the bid opening date.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they should have executed an industrial project either as a developer or as an EPC contractor in the areas of power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, coal mining, or any other process industry in the last ten years. The project should have been of a minimum value of ₹2.4 billion (~$28.87 million) and must have been in operation for at least six months to one year prior to the bid opening date.</p>
<p>The six-month successful operation criteria is valid for projects in the renewable energy (solar or wind) sector. The one-year criteria is for industrial projects other than the renewable energy sector.</p>
<p>The average annual turnover of the bidders should not be less than ₹2.4 billion (~$28.87 million) for any three out of the last five financial years.</p>
<p>The bidders’ net worth as of the last day of the preceding financial year should not be less than 100% of their paid-up share capital.</p>
<p>Recently, NTPC Green Energy, on behalf of Indian Oil NTPC Green Energy, has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-green-epc-200-mw-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for the EPC package with land to develop up to 200 MW of ISTS-connected solar projects anywhere in India.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> for timely updates on all solar tenders issued by various agencies in India.</p>


NTPC Green Tenders EPC Package with Land for 300 MW Solar Projects


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					</table><p>NTPC Green Energy, on behalf of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (<a href="https://neepco.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEEPCO</a>), has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package with land development for up to 300 MW of inter-state transmission system (ISTS) connected solar projects anywhere in India.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes the operation and maintenance of complete solar projects, including switchyard and power evacuation system until the interconnecting grid substation, along with consumables and spare parts for three years from the commissioning date.</p>
<p>The EPC contractor must also identify, acquire, and transfer ownership or lease the land in favor of NEEPCO.</p>
<p>The last day to submit the bids is November 24, 2023. Bids will be opened on the same day.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit a bid security amount according to the quoted capacities. For bidders quoting 100 MW, the bid security amount is ₹50 million (~$600,666); for 150 MW to 200 MW, bidders must furnish ₹100 million (~$1.2 million); and for 250 MW to 500 MW, they must furnish ₹200 million (~$2.4 million).</p>
<p>Bidders must have developed, designed, erected, commissioned, or supervised these activities for a grid-connected solar power project with a cumulative capacity of 40 MW or higher. At least one project must have been of 10 MW or higher capacity. The reference project must have been in operation for at least six months before the bid opening date.</p>
<p>Alternatively, bidders should have executed an industrial project in power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, coal mining, coal handling plant and/or any other process industry costing ₹2.4 billion (~$28.8 million).</p>
<p>Bidders must also have executed at least one electrical substation of 33 kV or above voltage as a developer or an EPC contractor, which has been operating for at least the last year.</p>
<p>They must have an average annual turnover of ₹2.4 billion (~$28.8 million) for three of the last five financial years.</p>
<p>The net worth of the bidders as of the last day of the preceding financial year should not be less than 100% of their paid-up share capital.</p>
<p>In February, NTPC Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-subsidiary-issues-epc-tender-for-500-mw-of-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for the EPC package with land development for 500 MW of ISTS-connected solar projects anywhere in India.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> for timely updates on all solar tenders issued by various agencies in India.</p>


NTPC Green Energy Issues EPC Tender for 300 MW of Solar Projects

<p>The National Thermal Power Corporation of India (<a href="https://www.ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NTPC</a>) has acquired 3,60,98,09,800 equity shares in the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (The share purchase agreement represents an amount of ₹40 billion (~$530.23 million), 100% of the total paid-up share capital of NEEPCO.</p>
<p>As per the company’s filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the balance sheet size of NEEPCO stood at ₹150.7 billion (~$1.99 billion) as on March 31, 2019, and the authorized share capital of NEEPCO is ₹50 billion (~$662.78 million). The total issued, subscribed, and paid-up share capital of NEEPCO stands at ₹36.09 billion (~$478.4 million).</p>
<p>The total loan book of NEEPCO is ₹70.52 billion (~$934.79 million), with a turnover of ₹21.084 billion (~$279.48 million) and the company registered a profit after tax of ₹2.139 billion (~$28.35 million) during the financial year 2018-19.</p>
<p>According to the document, the Government of India is the joint promoter of both the NTPC (51%) and NEEPCO (100%) and is the seller of the shares held by it in NEEPCO to the NTPC. The proposed transaction is a related party transaction between the government of India and a government company.</p>
<p>The document states that the proposed transaction between the NTPC and the government of India is exempt from the requirement of taking approval from the shareholders.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a meeting held on November 21, 2019, had in-principle granted its approval to the strategic disinvestment of government’s shareholding in NEEPCO to NTPC along with the transfer of the management control.</p>
<p>The document said the takeover of NEEPCO would not only give a foothold to NTPC in the northeaster regions but also help unlock potential synergies with many of its existing projects.</p>
<p>NEEPCO has an operational portfolio of 1,457 MW, comprising a hydropower generation capacity of 925 MW, the gas-based generation capacity of 527 MW, and a solar generation capacity of 5 MW. The acquisition will also help NTPC gain expertise in developing hydropower projects in difficult terrains such as the northeastern region of the country. Right now, NTPC’s presence in the eastern region of India is through its coal power projects.</p>
<p>Recently, NTPC <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-balance-of-system-tender-solar-rajasthan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invited</a> bids for the balance of system package for the 735 (3×245) MW Nokh solar project in the state of Rajasthan. The last date for the submission of techno-commercial bids is April 27, 2020, while the bid opening date has been scheduled for April 28, 2020.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MNRE</a>) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-implementing-agency-long-term-access-ists-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">designated</a> NTPC as the renewable energy implementing agency to facilitate the application of connectivity and long-term access (LTA) in the interstate transmission system network.</p>
<p>Image credit: Neepco</p>


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