India's MNRE unveils the Draft Guidelines for 3000 MW grid connected solar PV power projects

As part of the National Solar Mission Phase- II (2013-17) the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNRE has published the Draft Guidelines for Selection of 3000 MW Grid–Connected Solar PV Power Projects under Batch-II Tranche-I .

The National Solar Mission (NSM) launched in January 2010 had set a goal, amongst others, for deployment of 20,000 MW grid connected solar power capacity by 2022 in 3 phases (1000 MW in first phase up to 2012-13-,9000MW in second phase from 2013 to 2017and 10,000MW in third phase from 2017 to 2022).

According to the draft the total Solar PV capacity of 3,000 MW will be implemented through NVVN as part of Phase-II. NVVN is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd a Maharatna Company. NTPC is the largest power generator nationally with stations across the country.

Some outstanding  draft details are:

- Minimum project size will be 10 MW. NVVN will  divide the entire  quantity into projects of  uniform size as far as possible.

- The bidding will be State specific and conducted through e-bidding. It will be based on fixed levellised tariffs. The developers will submit bids quoting a fixed levellised tariff for the entire project duration of 25 years.

- The selection of bids will be done based  on the tariff quoted by the bidders. Selection will be based on lowest quoted levellised tariffs.

- NVVN will purchase the Solar Power generated from the selected Solar PV plants at the  quoted tariffs and Thermal Power at the Tariff as determined by CERC as per Regulations from time to time for power from the respective Thermal Power Plant from which power is allocated.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNRE allows to submit comments until 12^th of January 2015.