India's Maharashtra launches tender for 1GW of solar PV tech projects

It aims to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) opened the tender for 1GW of solar PV technology projects to mitigate the fulfill the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).

According to an announcement, MSEDCL will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the selected bidders for a period of 25 years.

The selection of projects would be technology agnostic within the technology mentioned hereinafter. Crystalline silicon or thin film, with or without trackers, can be installed, MSEDCL added.

Projects under construction, projects which are not yet commissioned, and projects already commissioned but do not have any long-term PPA with any agency and selling power on short-term or merchant plant basis will be considered.

The bidders will be free to obtain fiscal incentives like accelerated depreciation, concessional customs and excise duties, tax holidays, benefits from trading of carbon credits, as available for such projects. The same will not have any bearing on comparison of bids for the selection.

The last date of the submission for technical and financial bids and the opening of technical bids is on 3 January 2019.