To encourage faster growth of solar power in the state and to fulfil solar power purchase obligations as per the existing Regulations, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Thursday approved the procurement of 100 MW of solar power on long term basis (25 years) selected through competitive bidding process for its procurement.Bihar state power holding company limited (BSPHCL) had invited bids for setting up of grid connected solar (photovoltaic) PV projects of total 100 MW aggregate capacity in the state in compliance of the direction of the state energy department.
Government of India has set an ambitious target of 100000 MW solar power generations by 2022. The Commission observed that although solar power potential is very high in the state, there has not been much development in grid connected solar power generation in the state. The two members of the Commission – SC Jha and Rajeev Amit who heard this case on September 22, 1015 were authorised to issue final order in this case, after getting the desired information/documents from the petitioner, BSPHCL.The petitioner BSPHCL had filed a petition for approval and adoption of tariff for procurement of 100 MW of solar power (under Section 63 and 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003) with relevant guidelines and under BERC.
With a view to promote the power generation from new & renewable energy sources in the state, Bihar government has formulated the “Bihar Policy for promotion of New and Renewable Energy Sources 2011” way back in June 2011.In an endeavour to encourage faster adoption of solar power in the state as per the state policy and to fulfil its solar Power Purchase Obligations, the petitioner has undertaken the competitive bidding process and selected eight projects with cumulative capacity of 100 MW for procurement of solar power on long term basis (25 years).
The petitioner had filed the present petition for approval of procurement of 100 MW of solar power by North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) for the fulfilment of their solar power obligations and adoption of respective Levelised tariffs from eight projects to be established in the state by the private developers as selected through competitive bidding process, said senior BERC official.
As per the provision in the Bihar NRES Policy, 2011, state energy department had directed (Jan 10′ 2013) to carry out competitive bidding for procurement of 150 MW of solar power to be established by private developers on the ‘Chaur’ land where pisci-culture can be undertaken (“Neeche Machli Uppar Bijli”Scheme) and 100 MW of solar power to be established by private developers on barren land.In compliance to the above order, the erstwhile BSEB had already entered into Power Purchase Agreements with the solar power developers for procurement of cumulative 38 MW of power for fulfilment of its solar power obligations.
The BERC approved procurement of 100 MW of solar power selected through competitive bidding process for procurement of solar power at the quoted rates of the selected bidders mentioned in the PPAs ranging from Rs7.87/kwh to Rs8.73/kwh with the direction that the selected project is commissioned strictly within the time line as envisaged in the PPA i.e. July 16 2016.
Source:TOI
