MSEDCL 500 MW Solar Tender Receives Only 2 Bids Worth 350 MW

MSEDCL latest tender for the long-term procurement of power from 500 MW solar projects has received only two bids worth a combined 350 MW.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (MSEDCL) latest tender for the long-term procurement of solar power from 500 MW of intra-state grid-connected projects (Phase – V) has been undersubscribed by 150 MW after the Discom received only two bids worth a combined 350 MW solar project capacity.

It has been reported that the two bids have been received from Avaada Energy and Tata Power. Avaada Energy has submitted a proposal for developing of 200 MW of solar power projects while Tata Power has submitted a bid for developing 100 MW of solar power projects under the tender.

MSEDCL had set a ceiling tariff of Rs 2.90/kWh for the tender and the capacity utilization factor (CUF) of the project is expected to be at least 19 percent over a year. Projects developed in the solar park will be given 15 months to commission the project. Projects developed outside a solar park have to be commissioned within 18 months.

As per the RfS document, to be eligible to take part in the competitive bidding process, applicants must have had a net worth of at least Rs 5.5 crore and a minimum annual turnover of Rs 25 lakh in the previous financial year.

In September 2019, the MSEDCL had filed a petition with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for approval on procurement of 500 MW flexible and schedulable power from renewable energy sources with energy storage facility for 25 years and approval of the related tender documents. In its petition, MSEDCL has requested the commission to consider such procurement for the fulfillment of the discoms Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).

The discom in its submissions to the state commission has declared that it has already contracted 9,852 MW of renewable power as on March 31, 2019, and has planned to contract around 8,000 MW of renewable energy especially solar power to meet its RPO targets. By the next financial year, it expects around 16,500 MW of renewable power is expected to be fed into the grid, says the petition.