Mahagenco invites bids for 200 mw solar plant

As a part of its plan to set up 2,500-mw solar capacity over the next five years, the state- run generation company Mahagenco has invited tenders to set up 200-mw capacity across Maharashtra.
Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company, or Mahagenco, has invited bids of 50 mw each to be developed across the western, western/northern, Vidarbha and the Marathwada regions of the state to in public private partnerships.
Under the state government's 2015 renewable energy policy, 7,500-mw solar power will be developed over the next five years. Of which, 2,500 mw will be developed by Mahagenco. Accordingly, tenders have been floated for 200 mw.

As per the tender, Mahagenco has quoted Rs 3 per unit as the base tariff.
"Reverse bidding will be started considering the base tariff of Rs 3 per unit or the minimum tariff quoted by the bidder in price bid whichever is lower.
"After the completion of the reverse auction the bidder who quotes the lowest tariff will be awarded the contract," according to the tender document.

In May, solar tariffs had hit the lowest at Rs 2.44 per unit in the auctions carried out by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 500 mw capacity in Bhadla Phase-III solar park in Rajasthan.

The earlier lowest tariff of Rs 2.62 per unit was discovered recently in the auctions conducted by SECI for 250 mw Bhadla Phase-IV solar park in Rajasthan.
If the bids come at lower than Rs 2.44 per unit, it will be the lowest in the country.
The projects are coming up in a number of districts, including Nashik and Dhule in the western/norther region, Ahmednagar and Solapur in western Maharashtra, Amaravati, Yavatmal, Nagpur and Bhandara in Vidarbha and Aurangabad, Latur, Beed, Osmanabad and Jalna in the Marathwada region.
According to the tender, land for developing the project will be provided by Mahagenco on lease at a nominal cost of Re one for the entire term of power purchase agreement term of 25 years. Mahagenco will purchase the power generated from these plants.

State-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, or Mahadiscom, will build the transmission lines from the projects as well as look after their operation and maintenance.