After 33 hours of bidding, Mahindra Renewables, Acme Solar and Solenergi Power have emerged triumphant in the 750MW solar auction in Madhya Pradesh, with the lowest price smashing records at just INR2.97/kWh (US$0.044) in year one before an annual escalation kicks in.
Indian solar tariffs have reached a paradigm shifting new low after the final reverse auction round for 750MW capacity in Madhya Pradesh followed through into a nail biting second day.
The first round of bidding for the 750MW Rewa solar park in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has guaranteed that the highest tariff will be no more than 3.64 rupees per unit (US$0.054).
Plenty of naysayers have warned about unrealistic bidding and various delays damaging the Indian solar sector, but the head of ACME Solar, one of the largest developers India, approaching 1GW of installed capacity, has a very positive outlook on the industry's future. PV Tech caught up Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, the founder, chairman and managing director of ACME Group at the company offices in Gurgaon, New Delhi, to discuss delayed PPAs, transmission infrastructure, the approaching Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and a unique point of view on India's Ultra Mega solar power parks.
Unique tender structuring and a 28% module price drop will bring tariffs in the upcoming 750MW solar auction in Madhya Pradesh to extreme lows, according to the latest update from Bridge to India.
Brazil’s solar industry will still see strong growth despite the cancellation of Brazil’s only solar and wind auction this year, representatives of ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar have told PV Tech.
The board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a loan of US$130 million for projects awarded in Argentina’s RenovAr renewable energy programme.
Tariffs for utility-scale solar power in India are expected to go below the four rupee (US$0.059) mark next year, which would be a “radical moment” for India’s entire power sector, according to consultancy firm Bridge to India.