Under the renewable purchase agreement (RPO), which mandates the state to mix renewable energy with conventional thermal energy, the state has set a target to meet 21 per cent of its total energy needs from solar sources by 2023-24
JAIPUR: Rajasthan government is set to get 1,070 megawatt more from solar energy as it seeks to increase the share of the renewable in the total energy consumption basket. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for the state government for grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects to be set up in the state.
Under the renewable purchase agreement (RPO), which mandates the state to mix renewable energy with conventional thermal energy, the state has set a target to meet 21 per cent of its total energy needs from solar sources by 2023-24.
Currently, the state has 2,178 mw installed capacity under RPO and another 20,000 mw under different stages of development. Apart from the current 1,070mw tender, the state has approached SECI to float tenders for another 1,700 mw which will take the total RPO capacity to 7,000mw, which will be 21 per cent of the total energy consumption in the state.
“This 1,070 mw solar capacity will further reduce the cost of power for us, benefitting both people and the discoms. We have enlisted SECI to do the whole process of tendering and auction expecting better responses from developers and lower rates thereof,” said Ajitabh Sharma, principal secretary, Department of Energy and chairman of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation.
As per the tender, solar power developers need to place a single bid for any quantity starting from a minimum size of 10 mw going up to 1,070 mw and the projects would to be set up on a build-own-operate basis and can be situated anywhere in the state.
At an average of Rs 4 crore investment per megawatt, the tender will attract about Rs 4300 crore investments in the state.
The selected bidder will be required to sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with SECI which will sell the power to Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd.
The projects have a commissioning period of 18 months from the effective date of the PPA.
“Projects should be designed for interconnection with the nearest substation of the state transmission utility at a voltage level of 33 kV or above. The developer shall set up the solar project, including a dedicated transmission network to the interconnection/delivery point, at its own cost,” said SECI.
Source: TNN
