Moving forward with its stated target to aggressively add solar power capacity, Indian coal mining company NLC has issued a tender to set up 500 megawatts in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Each project shall have a minimum capacity of 50 megawatts each and no more than 10 projects shall be set up. Developers shall have 12 months from the date of project being awarded to commission the projects.
Developers shall be free to use either Indian-made solar modules or imported modules at their projects.
Power generated from the projects shall be sold to the state utility of Tamil Nadu under a long-term power purchase agreement. Developers shall be responsible for operation and maintenance for a period of 15 years.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation or NLC Limited has set a target to install 4,000 megawatts of solar capacity in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Rajasthan. These projects would be implemented under the National Solar Mission scheme announced by the central government.
NLC recently quashed plans to set up a large solar power project in Rajasthan due to low demand from the state utilities. It is unclear if Tamil Nadu utility shall procure the entire 500 megawatts as it has already signed power purchase agreements with several solar power projects.
NLC currently operates 10 megawatts of solar power project and has 65 megawatts under construction.
