Archive for December, 2011


Owing to various factors like difficulty in arranging Finance, lack of experience in developers and to some extent delays in arranging clearances, India lagged behind its Solar targets set by Central and State agencies. But it is not to say that whatever was achieved is any less feat. India went from 56 MW to 400 MW in 2011 itself. Developers might not have achieved 1200 MW envisaged by MNRE, Gujarat and other states combined, but the growth is visible and the world has recognized India as a major market with a lot of potential for growth in 2012. All major players in the field globally and standing in a queue to enter Indian market and gain a piece of the pie.

India will complete 400 megawatts of solar power connected to the grid this fiscal year, two-thirds less than previously forecast by state and central governments.
India has so far built 180 megawatts during the year ending March 31, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in an e- mailed statement today.
Gujarat had planned to build more than 900 megawatts during the fiscal year as part of a regional solar program, according to documents obtained from the state government. In addition, the central government’s Solar Mission had a forecast of 302 megawatts, according to a list of plans from the ministry.
The mission involved 150 megawatts of operations awarded by auction, 98 megawatts of rooftop developments and 54 megawatts of capacity under a program to consolidate state-level projects.

The State of Madhya Pradesh has recently announced setting up of 200 MW of Solar Power Project.

Pre-Bid meeting will be held on 16th January2012 and the last date of bidding is 31st January 2012.

Madhya Pradesh Power Trading Company Limited has invited sealed Responses from interested Companies and/or Bidding Consortium for Selection of Successful Bidder(s) for setting up of Solar Power Project with a minimum capacity of 5MW (total capacity 200MW) for supply of solar power for 25 years through a competitive bidding process.

BID SPECIFICATION NO: – MP TRADECO/IPC/2011/Solar Power-4 • Competitive bidding will be conducted in accordance with “Single–Stage: Two–Envelope” procedure and is open to all Eligible Bidders. • To obtain further information regarding bidding document, the Bidders should contact: -
Chief General Manager (IPC)
MP Power Trading Company Limited,
Block No 2, 4th Floor, Shakti Bhawan, Rampur,
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (M.P)
India- Pin 482008 Phone No. : +91-761-2667511, 2702400, 2702524
Fax No. : +91-761-2667511, 2661245, 2664653,
Email: ceipcgen@yahoo.co.in
Website: www.mptradeco.com

• The Bidding document is also available at www.mptradeco.com

Detailed Bid Document can be downloaded from said website and non refundable bid document fee of Rs. 10,000/- or 200 US Dollars plus 5% VAT should be paid in the form of Demand Draft/ Banker’s Cheque/ Pay Order drawn in favor of MP Power Trading Co. Ltd.” Payable at “Jabalpur”.
• The non refundable Bid Processing Fee of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) per MW in the form of Demand Draft / Pay Order should be submitted in a separate envelope along with the Response to RfS. The Demand Draft / Pay Order should be in favour of “MP Power Trading Co. Ltd.” Payable at “Jabalpur”.
• The prescribed Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs. 20 Lacs/MW shall be in the form of Bank Guarantee and has to be submitted with RfS as per Format-6.3 A. (valid for a period of 210 days from the last date of submission of the response to RfS).
• The Pre Bid meeting will held on 16.01.2012 at 15.30 Hrs, the eligible bidders can send their queries on or before 17.30 Hrs. on 07.01.2012.
• Bidders must submit their bids: (i) to the address above at or before 15:00 Hrs on the above deadline together with the Bid Process Fee and Earnest Money Deposit. Bids reached late due to postal/ courier delay or any other reason will not be accepted.
• MP Tradeco will not be responsible for any cost incurred by Bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of Bids.
• Bid will be opened at 15:30 Hrs on the same day of the deadlines in the presence of Bidders’ representatives who chose to attend at the address above.
• In the event the above date is declared holiday / or local holiday then the tender opening date will automatically get shifted to the next working day.
• The Company reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid for part or full without assigning any reason thereof.

New Delhi, December 28, 2011 – India is one of the fastest growing Solar PV Projects market in the world. A large number of projects were allocated under the PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) mechanism in 2010-2011. A lot of projects have come online and many are about to be commissioned. These projects had been allocated in 2010 under National and State level schemes like JNNSM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission) Phase I Part I and Gujarat Solar Policy 2009 (Phase I and Phase II).
Recently National Solar Mission Phase I Part II allocated 350 MW of new projects. The developers were shortlisted this month. Rajasthan has also started the process of allocating and shortlisting developers for 100 MW of Solar PV Projects along with 100 MW Solar Thermal.
Next opportunity of investment in Solar sector in India will be the project allocations under Phase III of Gujarat Solar Policy. The draft tariff order was released some time back and a final version will be announced soon. The tariff envisaged in the draft order is much higher than the national bidding prices which went as low as 30% below the international average.
Headway Solar (P) Ltd. has brought out a “Guide to Investing in Gujarat Solar PV Projects under Phase III allocations – 2012”. The data is currently based on the draft tariff order and will be applicable to some changes as per the final tariff order.
The guide may be downloaded from the following link:
www.headwaysolar.com/Solar_Power_Investemt_in_India_under_Gujarat_Policy_Phase_III_Allocations_2012.pdf
(Use Right-Click and Save link As)

The guide covers technical, policy and finance related basic aspects of Gujarat Solar Investment and will be beneficial to all the developers who are planning to invest in Solar Power plants in India.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr.Farooq Abdullah inaugurated a national consultation in New Delhi on net metering in grid solar projects. The consultation has been organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in association with GIZ, Germany. Senior officers of Central Ministries, Chairmen and Secretaries of State Regulatory Commissions, State Power Departments and distribution companies are participating in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah asked the officials to prepare an action plan for introducing net metering in commercial and residential roof top solar projects, so that use of solar power can be expanded substantially in the country. He said that with solar power cost coming down from Rs. 18/- per unit in 2010 to Rs. 8/- per unit in 2012, it should be possible to allow consumers feed extra power to the grid. He called upon the regulators and distribution companies to come out with practical solution to facilitate the process.

A senior official of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has said that the Government is bound by international agreements in which it has committed not to impose customs duty on products used in solar power generation.

The official said the Ministry has received representations from Indian (module and cell) manufacturers seeking duty protection against cheap imports. The manufacturers allege dumping by the Chinese and selling of modules backed by cheap credit by the Americans.
The official said that his Ministry had not yet sent its recommendations to the Ministry of Finance. He said that the issue was being examined in the MNRE.

He also stressed that the government would “find some way” to protect the local manufacturers. When asked if incentives would be given to the domestic industry, he said “it is being considered.”

Indian solar manufacturers are currently in a turmoil inspite of National Solar Mission and other State programs because most of the demand is being met by imports. Ironically, at a time when the National Solar Mission is being rolled out, domestic companies are struggling for a pie of the market. It is against this backdrop that the local manufacturers have sought protection.

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