Solar power tariff falls to record low at Rs 4 per unit
The solar power tariff slipped to an all-time low of Rs 4 per unit — the maximum rate — fixed under the tender floated for 750-mw solar power projects at Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan.
“Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has finalised a tender issue for the 750-mw solar PV projects in Bhadla solar park, Rajasthan, at a record low tariff for power sale of '4 per unit with VGF (viability gap funding) support,” a source said.
SECI managing director Ashvini Kumar said: “The government has fixed solar power tariff at Rs 4 per unit as the benchmark rate for all tenders in the states where solar tariff has been discovered at up to Rs 4.50 per unit in various auctions.”
About the specific tender of the 750-mw solar power projects, Kumar said, “This auction will be completed in one and a half months. Now, Rs 4 per unit is the benchmark. The tariff can be lower than this rate also as it depends on the bidders to quote the price.”
With this tender issue, SECI has completed auction of more than 5 gw — the total being 5,410 mw — under the VGF scheme in a span of less than 15 months. Of this, power purchase agreements (PPAs) have been signed for 2,520 mw and PSAs (power supply agreements) for 2,725 mw.