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Maharashtra Solar Power

1.5 GW Solar Power Parks Approved In Maharashtra, India

written by saurabh

The Indian government has sanction three solar power parks, or ultra mega solar power projects, in the western state of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra state officials told Indian media outlets that approval for three solar power projects has been secured from the central government. Each of these projects will have installed capacity of 500 MW and shall be spread in different districts of the state.

The state government seems to have zeroed down on the specific sites for the projects. Each project will be spread over 2,500 acres of land. The projects are likely to be auctioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) as it has already done in states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, among others.

SECI currently lists 34 such solar power parks across the country that have received in-principle approval. The cumulative capacity of these solar power parks is 20 GW. The solar power park program is linked to the green energy corridors project that will see installation of dedicated transmission lines for large renewable energy projects. These transmission lines shall enable supply of electricity from states rich in renewable energy generation to other states.

In June, it was reported that Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is reportedly planning to implement a second phase of the solar parks program. Initially, the capacity addition planned through ultra mega solar power projects was 20 GW, the ministry is now considering to double that.

Maharashtra, through its state policy, plans to set up 7.5 GW of solar power capacity by 2020.

November 30, 2016 0 comment

Orange Renewable Signs PPA For 100 MW Solar PV Project In India

written by saurabh

A renewable energy independent power producer, Orange Renewable, has signed a power purchase agreement to sell power from a large solar power project in Maharashtra.

Subsidiary of Singapore-based AT Holdings, Orange Renewable, has signed a power purchase agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 100 MW solar PV project. The company had won rights to develop the project during a competitive auction held earlier this year.
The auction was organised by SECI for setting up 450 MW solar power park in the state of Maharashtra. Projects were offered under the viability gap funding mode with fixed tariff of Rs 4.43/kWh (US¢6.6/kWh). Developers were supposed to bid for the lowest capital cost support needed to set up the projects.

Interestingly, one of the bidders placed a bid of no capital cost support and even offered to develop a 30 MW project at lower tariff of Rs 4.41/kWh. Orange Renewable placed a bid of financial support of US$68,816 per MW to implement 100 MW project at the fixed tariff of Rs 4.43/kWh. Another major renewable energy IPP Welspun Renewables Energy also secured 100 MW with capital cost support of US$80,410 per MW.

Orange Renewable winning the bid for a solar power project is continuation of a recent trend in India which has seen wind energy projects developers entering the solar power market. Solar power enjoys comparatively stronger regulatory support. And a number of important financial incentives for wind energy sector are set to expire at the end of this financial year.

April 23, 2016 0 comment

Indian Company Plans 1,250 MW Solar Power Projects Over Water Bodies

written by saurabh

Government-owned power generation company in the western state of Maharashtra has revealed expansive plans to utilise water bodies and generate solar power.

Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) recently floated tenders for the preparation of detailed project reports for setting up solar power projects over water bodies in the state.

Mahagenco plans to set up these projects in partnership with other government agencies that own these water bodies through a revenue-sharing model. The company plans to set up projects on a) reservoirs and canals and, b) lakes and other water bodies.

The company aims to replicate the canal-top solar power projects implemented in the neighbouring state of Gujarat. Canal-top solar power projects have dual advantage of little to no requirement of land requirement to set up the solar panels, thereby making substantial savings on project’s capital cost, and limiting the loss of water from canals/reservoirs due to evaporation.

Water bodies owned by villages and local self-governing bodies will also be roped in to set up such solar power projects. Mahagenco plans to implement these projects through net-metering scheme. Solar power projects set up at such water bodies will inject electricity during the day and the local utility will supply electricity to villages during the night. The balance in electricity units shall be settled on monthly basis. This will reduce the electricity bills for villagers and also improve electricity supply.

After the successful implementation of canal-top solar power projects in Gujarat several other states have announced plans to implement similar projects. Punjab, Damodar Valley Corporation and Kerala have publicly announced targets to set up projects over canals, reservoirs and other water bodies.

Image Credit: SunEdison

March 29, 2016 0 comment