The Government will soon invite bids for large solar photovoltaic projects of up to 20 MW. This is part of the second batch of the Phase 1 of the National Solar Mission.

On Thursday, the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy issued guidelines for new grid connected solar projects inviting bids for 350 MW of PV projects. For this 350-MW it plans to increase the per unit capacity multiples of 5 MW with the maximum of 20 MW are to be selected in FY 2011-12.

In the earlier round where projects with a cumulative capacity of 150 MW were approved, the maximum capacity was 5 MW for each unit.

For the second batch the Government has also increased the timeline to achieve financial closure by a month to seven months or 210 days for the bidders from the time of signing the power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Similarly, the total capacity of such projects to be allocated to a company including its parent, affiliate or ultimate parent or any Group company shall be limited to 50 MW. They may submit application for a maximum of three projects at different locations subject to a maximum aggregate capacity of 50 MW.

The net worth of the company should be equal to or greater than the value calculated at the rate of Rs 3 crore of the project capacity up to 20 MW. For every MW additional capacity, beyond 20 MW, additional net worth of Rs 2 crore would need to be demonstrated.

JNNSM envisages the implementation of the solar programme including utility grid solar power in three phases – first phase up to 2013 (1,100 MW), second phase up to 2017 (4,000 MW), and third phase up to 2022 (20,000 MW).

NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), the trading arm of NTPC, has been designated as nodal agency for sale and purchase of grid connected solar power under Phase-1 of the Mission.

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