India’s Madhya Pradesh unveils historic low tariff, 1.5 GW project

From pv magazine India

Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) says it has achieved a historic low tariff of Rs 1.38 per unit for PV rooftop systems to be installed on central government buildings, as part of its RESCO II rooftop solar tender, an official statement said.

Speaking to pv magazine, Shreekant Deshmukh, MPUVNL superintending engineer, said that the lowest rate of Rs 1.38 per unit is applicable for the first year, which is one-fourth of what consumers are presently paying. “The rates would increase by 3% annually and would roughly double at the end of 25 years,” he said.

In another major development, Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd (RUMSL) has invited bids for a 1.5 GW solar project, to be installed across three separate systems: Agar Solar Park (550 MW), Shajapur Solar Park (450 MW) and Neemuch Solar Park (500 MW).

A joint venture of state government-owned MPUVNL and the Solar Energy Corporation of India, RUMSL will sign a deal with Indian Railways and Railways Energy Management Company Limited (REMCL) for procuring around 23% energy from the project, while Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company (MPPMCL) will receive the rest.

This will be the country’s second project to provide energy to a large institutional player. RUMSL’s 750 MW Rewa Solar Power Project, one of the world’s largest single-site solar power plants, was the first solar project to supply power to an inter-state open access customer – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

To date, Madhya Pradesh has installed approximately 1.3 GW of solar capacity, with another gigawatt of projects in the development pipeline. The state accounts for nearly 6% of the country’s cumulative installed utility-scale solar capacity.