Delhi utility BSES to procure 700MW of clean energy including solar

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
BSES withdrew its 2014 tender as electricity tariffs were too expensive. Credit: Ville Miettinen

Delhi-based private distribution company (Discom) BSES, which is backed by Indian conglomerate Reliance Infra, plans to procure 700MW of clean energy including solar power using a reverse auction process.

BSES, which also operates in Mumbai, is tendering the renewable energy capacity in order to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target. The RPO mandates Discoms to purchase a certain amount of their energy from renewable sources.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The company aims to procure electricity at under INR 5/kWh (US$0.075), which is significantly lower than the lowest bid of INR6.19/kWh it received after floating a tender in November 2014.

BSES wrote to Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to withdraw this earlier tender having found the price too expensive. After seeing solar prices plummet through reverse auction processes of late, it has now decided to hold its own reverse auction for both solar and non-solar power.

BSES claims this will be the largest private sector “green” bid in India under guidelines of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

It also claims this process could translate into savings of around INR2 billion for the consumer.

A BSES spokesperson said: “This will open a new avenue of procuring power at competitive rates from renewable sources. The whole process is ultimately going to help consumers in getting a cleaner energy at competitive rates and keep the retail tariffs low.”

PV Tech recently published an indepth analysis of 'India's cutthroat solar auctions'.

Read Next

June 23, 2025
Waaree Energies will relocate its proposed 6GW vertically-integrated manufacturing facility for ingots, wafers, cells, and modules in India.
June 17, 2025
Indian module manufacturer Ahaan Solar has started construction of a 2GW solar module assembly plant in Rohnat, Haryana.
June 16, 2025
The global solar tracker market expanded by 20% in 2024 to a record size, according to energy research firm Wood Mackenzie.
June 13, 2025
Indian solar developer Solarium Green Energy has planned to build a 1GW module manufacturing plant in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Premium
June 12, 2025
PV Talk: Vinay Rustagi, director of Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies, discusses the company’s upstream manufacturing plans and why he believes India can become a counterweight to Chinese PV hegemony.
June 12, 2025
Waaree Solar Americas will supply 599MW of solar modules supply agreement to an undisclosed US-based independent power producer (IPP).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico