Adani Ends Up With 8534 MW From Mfg. Linked Tender, Azure Left With 1667 MW

In a petition before the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) where the commission finally stayed away from any comment or order, SECI has allocated 8534 MW out of the total 12000 MW to Adani Green, while Azure Power, which had won 4000 MW in comparison to Adani’s 8000 MW in the same tender, has been left with 1667 MW. Adani’s manufacturing linked obligations will accordingly now be linked to the higher allotment of 10033 MW to it. 2033 MW higher than the 8 GW allotted to it earlier. that would mean that instead of the original 2 GW of manufacturing, Adani now has to establish an additional 583 MW of a Manufacturing Plant of Solar PV Modules and Cells.

The changes have been necessitated by Azure’s decision to surrender 2333 MW of the capacity allocated to it. Azure did this vide a communication to SECI back in 16.10.2023 which was mapped to onward supply to the AP Discoms.

Until then, SECI had managed to sign PSA’s for a total quantity of 9234 MW with multiple discoms, with the lions share accounted for by the Andhra Discoms at 7000 MW.  Readers might recall that this was the same deal where the US authorities had accused Adani Group of impropriety in closing out the deals with AP, even as technically it is SECI’s job to do so.

The surrender by Azure added a fresh twist to the saga of the 12 GW manufacturing linked tender, which has had a long and as yet unfinished journey so far. By shifting the  Azure allotments to Adani on the same terms ( and price of Rs 2.42/unit) as agreed to with Azure, while allowing for more time to complete the projects, SECI has made its final effort to ensure the project goes through and delivers as envisaged.

From initial plans in 2018 to the present situation, one would have to say that this seems as close to closure as one can imagine, and once the full compliment of power starts flowing by 2026, it would close the chapter on one of the more jinxed plans to promote solar manufacturing through the old fashioned way of production quotas. With both module and cell capacity flourishing now, especially the former, it is  indeed a great relief that such strangely designed tenders will not have to be resorted to in the sector again.

For SECI of course, work is not over yet as it still has to handle the small matter of fighting the case Azure has brought to prevent encashment of Performance guarantees for backing out, besides the risk of the remaining capacity of 1667 MW it is still to bring online.

With no change in tariff or the induction of any new bidder outside the list of original winners (Adani and Azure), the CERC bench had to pass no order other than take on record the changes made by SECI, which it did in its order dated April 17,2025.