India mulls tender for 20 GW of solar capacity
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is pondering inviting bids to build as much as 20 GW of photovoltaic solar power, according to anonymous government officials. It's hoped the project, to be tendered piecemeal, will substantially reduce tariff prices and boost manufacturing. However, officials said issues over land and power transmission were proving problematic. India aims to have 175 GW of renewable capacity by 2022.
India intends to launch a tender for up to 20 GW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity, seeking to promote domestic manufacturing and lower the tariffs for solar power, Mint reports.

According to a government official who preferred to remain anonymous, consultations for the ambitions plan have already started but the authorities are facing some problems related to land and power transmission. The idea for such “mega” auction may lead to a “substantial reduction” of solar tariffs in the country, he added, as cited by the newspaper.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is still working on conceptualizing the plan that will see developers install the awarded capacity in phases, a second person aware of the development informed Mint.

The government of India has set a target for the country to reach 175 GW of renewable power capacity by 2022. The goal for solar is 100 GW.

The lowest bid for solar power in India so far stands at INR 2.44 (USD 0.037/EUR 0.032) per kWh, received in May in a 500-MW tender in Bhadla, Rajasthan.

(INR 10 = USD 0.153/EUR 0.131)

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