Wind tariff in India touched its lowest level of Rs.2.64 per kWh in the second wind auction conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on behalf of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India yesterday. The tariff discovered is much lower the Rs. 3.46 per kWh discovered in the first auction in February this year.
Against the 1,000 mw capacity put under auction, SECI received 12 bids totaling 2,892 mw. Out of these, nine bids with a cumulative capacity of 2,142 mw were shortlisted for e-reverse auction. The auction started at 3 pm on 4 October and continued for over 13 hours, a government release said.
The winners along with the capacity and tariffs are tabulated alongside. These wind projects are to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of Letter of Award by SECI to successful bidders.
As per provisions of scheme additional 100 mw capacity can be allotted to Central public sector units willing to undertake development of interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected wind power projects at the lowest bid tariff of Rs.2.64/kWh, for which they have to submit their proposal within 30 days from the declaration of results of e-reverse auction.
The power from these projects will be supplied to obligated entities for fulfilment of their non-solar RPO obligation at pooled price of capacity selected.
Auction 1
It may be recalled that after the first wind auction resulted in discovery of record low wind tariff of Rs.3.46 per kWh in February 2017, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy sanctioned second wind auction Scheme for setting up of 1,000 MW ISTS connected wind power projects on May 4, 2017. SECI issued bids on May 30, 2017 and bids were closed on July 14, 2017. Auction was earlier scheduled for 19 September 2017 and the same was postponed to 4 October 2017 as CERC order on the issue of grid connectivity that is being faced by the successful bidders in the first wind auction was awaited.
