NTPC Subsidiary Commissions 50 MW Solar Project in Kerala

NTPC Ltd has announced that its subsidiary – THDC India has begun commercial operation of its maiden solar power project in Kerala

NTPC Ltd has announced that its subsidiary – THDC India has successfully commissioned its maiden solar power project in the state of Kerala, and has begun its commercial operation.

In a corporate filing, the state-run power giant stated that the “maiden solar power project of 50 MW capacity situated at Kasargod Solar Park at Kasargod, Kerala of THDC India Limited (a subsidiary company of NTPC Limited), is declared on commercial operation from December 31, 2020.”

With this, the commissioned, as well as commercial capacity of the THDC India Limited and NTPC group, has become 1,587 MW and 62,975 MW, respectively.

Recently, the firm had issued a tender for the selection of solar power developers for setting up a 190 MW grid-connected solar PV power project at the Nokh Solar Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The park is being developed through Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company [i.e. Solar Power Park Developer (SPPD)] in Nokh Village in the Jaisalmer district. 

It has been specified that the selected bidders should only deploy commercially established and operational technologies to minimize the technology risk and achieve the project’s commissioning. The cells and modules used in the project should be sourced only from the models and manufacturers included in the ‘Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM)’ issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The last date for bid submission is February 10, 2021. Bidders from countries that share a border with India will be eligible to bid in this tender provided that they are registered with the competent authority.

The firm intends to generate 25 percent of its power capacity from renewable sources by 2030, which will be equivalent to 32 GW of power capacity and require an investment of Rs 1.60 lakh crore. Experts believe the infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) route would be ideal to unlock the value of existing assets for making future investments in green projects. In line with this, the firm has been mulling over creating a JV company with the central governments’ strategic investment fund NIIF to set up a renewable InvIT.