The Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) has awarded 46.5 MW of rooftop solar capacity in a recently conducted auction to Tata Power, Waaree Group, and Inkel, a senior KSEBL official confirmed to Mercom.

According to the official, Tata Power bagged a total capacity of 35 MW in all categories, which includes projects less than 10 kW, 11-100 kW, or more than 100 kW. Waaree was awarded 6.5 MW while Kochi-based developer Inkel Energy won 5 MW.

 

According to the official, there were five bidders, out of which only three were selected. “The other two didn’t match the financial and experience criteria as mentioned in our tender document, due to which only 46.5 MW was allotted against the 50 MW auctioned,” added the official.

In June 2019, the KSEB had filed a petition with the Kerala Electricity Commission (KERC) to implement projects comprising a total capacity of 200 MW of solar rooftop systems during 2019-20 to meet its renewable purchase obligations (RPO). After examining the petition, the KERC, in September 2019, allowed KSEB to proceed with the tendering process for 200 MW of rooftop solar projects under the Soura Phase-1 program.

In August 2019, the Kerala government launched a program called ‘Soura’ to add 1,000 MW of solar projects to the existing capacity of Kerala State Electricity Board Limited by 2022. The projects will be implemented under the Urja State Kerala Mission.  Of the 1,000 MW, 500 MW will be implemented through a solar rooftop program, and the remaining 500 MW will be either floating or ground-mounted solar projects.

Speaking to Mercom, the official informed that the tendering of the projects was done under three models.

Under Model 1, the rooftop and land of willing consumers will be utilized for installing solar projects by KSEB. The energy generated must be fed into the grid for 25 years, and a fixed percentage (10%) of the generation will be given as the incentive or lease rent to the premise owner for his use.

Under Model 2, KSEB will install a rooftop or ground-mounted project in consumer premises, and the energy generated will be sold to the consumer for 25 years through PPA at a set tariff.

Under Model 3, the consumer will be the investor, and KSEB will set up the solar project for the consumer, and excess energy will be fed into KSEB’s grid and settled as per net-metering regulations.

The KSEB would implement the first two models through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model or renewable energy service company (RESCO mode), and the developer will implement the third model under EPC mode.

Nearly 150 MW of projects will be developed under RESCO models, while the remaining 50 MW will be under the EPC model.

“We didn’t get a good response for the 150 MW project due to the ceiling tariff, so we’ll be retendering the projects with an attractive tariff, and we hope to commence the project from April 2020,” the officer said.

The senior official said, “At the moment, consumer agreement is under process for the 46.5 MW, and the projects will be completed by the end of June this year.”

He added that these selected consumers are from all categories, such as commercial, institutions, and schools.

 

Image credit: Envious Energy

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.