Over 150 companies have evinced interest in developing
large solar photovoltaic projects of up to 20 MW. These include Reliance
(Anil Ambani Group), Lanco, Moser Baer and the Tatas.
Also in the race are public sector companies GAIL (India) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
Official sources told Business Line
that the request for selection (RFS) were received for 218 solar PV
projects for over 2,500 MW capacity, much higher than the capacity
offered – 350 MW.
The RFS were invited by the
Government as part of the second batch of Phase-1 of the National Solar
Mission. The last date for submission was October 3.
NTPC
Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), the trading arm of NTPC, has been
designated as the nodal agency for sale and purchase of grid-connected
solar power under Phase-1 of the Mission. NVVN expects to call for
discount bids from the shortlisted entities by November.
What
made this phase attractive was that besides the incentives being
offered by the Government, the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy
revised the guidelines for new grid-connected solar PV projects and
increased the per unit capacity into multiples of 5 MW with the maximum
of 20 MW for FY 2011-12.
In the earlier round, where
projects with a cumulative capacity of 150 MW were approved, the
maximum capacity stood at 5 MW for each unit.
Further,
for the second batch of the Mission, the Government has increased the
timeline to achieve financial closure by a month to seven months or 210
days for the bidders from the time of signing the power purchase
agreements.
Also, the total capacity of such
projects to be allocated to a company, including its parent, affiliate
or ultimate parent or any Group company shall be limited to 50 MW. They
can submit applications for a maximum of three projects at different
locations, subject to a maximum aggregate capacity of 50 MW.
The
net worth of the company should be equal to or greater than the value
calculated at the rate of Rs 3 crore of the project capacity up to 20
MW. For every MW additional capacity, beyond 20 MW, additional net worth
of Rs 2 crore would need to be demonstrated.
The
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission envisages the implementation of
the solar programme including utility grid solar power in three phases –
first phase up to 2013 (1,100 MW), second phase up to 2017 (4,000 MW),
and third phase up to 2022 (20,000 MW).
From the hindu bussinessline dated 16/10/2011
