The Andhra Pradesh Government has received good response for the grid-connected solar power project development bids with 50 applicants and lowest offer of Rs 5.25 per unit for 40 mw by the US-based major First Solar.
Other bidders include Welspun Renewables Energy which bid for 345 MW followed by Acme Clean Tech Solutions Ltd for 160 MW capacity.
As against the invitation for development of 500 MW of solar parks, the State has received interest for 1296 MW, according to AP Transco.
Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy Government of AP, K. Vijayanand, MD, AP Genco, indicated about the overwhelming response to the AP solar bid for procurement of 500 MW Grid connected solar photo voltaic projects in Andhra Pradesh.
The range of first year tariff offered by the bidders is from Rs 5.25 to Rs 8.08 per unit with 3 per cent escalation every year up to 10 years and there is no escalation after 11th year. With the tariff up to Rs 5.99 per unit, the cumulative capacity offered by the bidders is 619 MW against the bid capacity of 500 MW.
First Solar Power India offered lowest tariff of Rs 5.25 per unit for 40 MW in Ananthapur district. The levelised tariff works out to Rs 6.17 per unit which is lower than the earlier tariff offer of Rs 6.49 per Unit.
Solar bidders preferred Ananthapur district with bids for 580 MW and followed by Chittoor 273 MW and Kurnool 272 MW. For Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam tariffs of Rs.5.94 and Rs.5.99 per unit were offered.
G. Sai Prasad, Secretary, Power in the Chief Minister’s Office, stated that the Centre has agreed to provide a grant of Rs 20 lakh per MW working to Rs 500 crore for the development 2500 MW solar park in the State.
The State Government has drawn up a perspective plan targeting setting up of renewable energy generation capacity of 9150 mw by 2018-18.