Yesterday’s record-breaking bid opening in Saudi Arabia for 300MW of solar has grabbed headlines, including on PV Tech, but while the exact parameters of the RfP remain covert, the bid levels have sparked debate about whether such low prices can be possible without some kind of escalating tariff mechanism or other distortion.
UPDATED: Saudi Arabia’s 300MW solar tender has seen opening bids go lower than two US cents, setting the tone for a new global solar power tariff record if awarded.
UPDATED: The Indian state of Tamil Nadu’s latest 1.5GW solar auction has received the lowest bids in the state so far with Raasi Green Earth winning 100MW of capacity with a tariff of INR3.47/kWh (US$0.054).
India solar prices have continued their downward spiral, this time with record low bids of INR2.62/kWh (US$~0.04) from Phelan Energy Group and Avaada Power in the state of Rajasthan.
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has reduced the benchmark tariff for grid-connected utility-scale solar in the Indian state from INR6.51/kWh (US$0.101) to INR4.36/kWh (US$0.068).
Indian solar tariffs reached yet another new low yesterday with the Indian arm of French clean energy firm Solairedirect winning 250MW(ac) of capacity in Andhra Pradesh with a record bid of INR 3.15/kWh (US$0.0494).
A Canadian government entity has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Pakistani province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to cooperate on up to 1GW of solar energy projects in the region.
Jasmeet Khurana, associate director, consulting, Bridge to India, shares his views on what the record breaking tariffs for 750MW solar in Madhya Pradesh mean for India's entire power sector.
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).