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					</table><p>The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://rerc.rajasthan.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RERC</a>) has approved the procurement of 1,000 MW of solar power by Rajasthan Urja Vikas &amp; IT Service (<a href="https://energy.rajasthan.gov.in/ruvks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RUVITL</a>) from seven developers.</p>
<p>The decision, aimed at meeting the state&#8217;s renewable energy purchase obligations (RPO) and day-time power demand, upheld the competitive bidding process and approved the tariffs ranging from ₹2.61(~$0.0312)/kWh to ₹2.62 (~$0.0313)/kWh.</p>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p>RUVITL, formerly Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam, is responsible for procuring and distributing power in Rajasthan.</p>
<p>To comply with the renewable energy purchase obligations set by the RERC, RUVITL initiated a bid process to procure 2,500 MW of solar power. The initiative received approval from the Rajasthan government in October 2022.</p>
<p>In January 2023, RUVITL launched a tender to select developers for 1,000 MW of solar power projects connected to the state transmission utility out of 2,500 MW.</p>
<p>In the e-reverse auction in May 2023, the lowest tariff discovered was ₹2.61 (~$0.0312)/kWh.</p>
<p><strong>Commission&#8217;s Analysis</strong></p>
<p>The Commission noted that the process adhered to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power (<a href="https://powermin.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOP</a>) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>).</p>
<p>Nine bidders participated, and seven were selected based on their tariffs.</p>
<p>RUVITL executed power purchase agreements with the selected developers between February and March 2024 for 25 years.</p>
<p>The Commission highlighted that procuring 1,000 MW of solar power would significantly improve the state&#8217;s compliance with its renewable energy obligations.</p>
<p>The approval of this procurement is expected to increase the achievement of the &#8220;Other RPO&#8221; category from 26.35% to 27.77%.</p>
<p>Recently, the Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rerc-approves-solar-pm-kusum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the purchase of 3 GW of power from 1,111 solar projects under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabiyan program for 25 years.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don&#8217;t miss out on any critical updates from the renewable industry.</p>


RERC Approves Tariff for 1,000 MW Solar Projects in Rajasthan


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					</table><p>Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services (<a href="https://energy.rajasthan.gov.in/ruvks/#/home/dptHome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RUVITL</a>) has invited bids from developers to set up 8,000 MW solar power projects in the state.</p>
<p>The last date for the submission of bids is June 24, 2024. Bids will open the same day.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit ₹29,500 (~$353.75) as the cost of the document fee and ₹500,000 (~$5,996) + 18% GST as the bid processing fee.</p>
<p>Bidders must also furnish an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹500,000 (~$5,996)/MW of the quoted capacity.</p>
<p>Selected bidders must provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹1.2 million (~$14,388)/MW per project at least seven working days before signing the PPA.</p>
<p>The solar power developer must set up the solar projects connected to the State Transmission Utility to supply power to RUVITL. The developer&#8217;s responsibilities include identifying land, installing and owning the project, and obtaining connectivity, approvals, and interconnection with the STU network.</p>
<p>Bidders, including their parent, affiliate, ultimate parent, or any group company, must submit a single bid offering a minimum contracted capacity of 4,000 MW in the specified formats.</p>
<p>The projects must be situated within Rajasthan, including solar parks, while the pooling substation must connect to the STU. Bidders must quote a single tariff for the total capacity offered and may opt to establish more than one project.</p>
<p>Each project should be designed for interconnection with the nearest substation of the STU at a voltage level of 33 kV or higher. The developer must adhere to applicable grid codes, grid connectivity standards, regulations on the communication system for electric transmission, and other relevant regulations issued by appropriate regulatory commissions and the Central Electricity Authority.</p>
<p>The minimum voltage for interconnection at the STU must be 33 kV. Any delays in obtaining connectivity and subsequent compliance with financial closure or commissioning of the project due to the above requirements are the developer&#8217;s responsibility, including the risk and cost of obtaining connectivity at designated substations.</p>
<p>Bidders must declare the project&#8217;s annual capacity utilization factor (CUF). The developer can revise this figure once within the first year after the commercial operation date.</p>
<p>Subsequently, the declared CUF remains unchanged for the entire PPA term, with a minimum of 17%. If, during any contract year, the developer fails to supply the minimum energy corresponding to the annual CUF&#8217;s declared lower limit, the shortfall will have to be addressed according to the PPA provisions.</p>
<p>RUVITL may accept part commissioning of the project provided that the minimum capacity for acceptance of the first and subsequent parts commissioning is 50 MW, without prejudice to the imposition of liquidated damages as per the PPA for the uncommissioned part.</p>
<p>In the case of part-commissioning, the developer must demonstrate possession of land corresponding to the commissioned part&#8217;s capacity before declaring the commissioning of said part.</p>
<p>The modules used in the project must be from the latest Approved List of Models and Manufacturers issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.</p>
<p>Recently, Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam (AVVNL), a power distribution company in Rajasthan, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rajasthan-nvites-bids-solar-projects-kusumhttps:/www.mercomindia.com/rajasthan-nvites-bids-solar-projects-kusum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> four tenders to set up 768.4 MW of solar power projects under the Component C of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan program.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of tender activity in real time.</p>


Rajasthan Invites Bids to Develop 8 GW Solar Projects


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					</table><p>SJVN Green Energy (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of <a href="https://sjvn.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SJVN</a>, has signed a power usage agreement (PUA) and power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services (<a href="https://energy.rajasthan.gov.in/ruvks/#/home/dptHome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RUVITL</a>) for the supply of 600 MW of solar power for 25 years.</p>
<p>The PUA entails the supply of 500 MW of solar power from SGEL’s 1 GW Bikaner solar power project at a tariff of ₹2.57 (~$0.0311)/kWh. SGEL had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-sjvn-nhpc-nlc-ircon-win-iredas-5-gw-cpsu-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> the project capacity in the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency’s auction for 5 GW of grid-connected solar projects (Tranche-III) under the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Program (Phase-II).</p>
<p>The PPA involves the 100 MW solar power to be supplied at a tariff of ₹2.62 (~$0.0317)/kWh from the project SGEL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mahindra-susten-sael-avaada-winners-ruvnls-1-gw-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> in Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam’s auction to supply 1 GW of power from state transmission utility (STU)-connected solar power projects in the state.</p>
<p>The 1 GW Bikaner solar power project is claimed to be the country&#8217;s largest single-location project, and it is being developed at the Banderwala village in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The project will cost an estimated ₹54.91 billion (~$663.63 million) and is expected to be commissioned by September 30, 2024. It would generate 2,454.84 MU in the first year of operation and 56,474 MU over 25 years.</p>
<p>With the recent PUA with RUVITL, SGEL has not secured the supply agreement for the entire 1 GW capacity of the project; the other two beneficiaries include <a href="https://uppcl.org/uppcl/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation</a> for 200 MW and <a href="https://pdd.jk.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation</a> for <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-green-signs-power-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">300 MW</a>.</p>
<p>The 100 MW capacity under the PPA is being developed on 387.56 acres of land of Sambhar Salts at Nawa, Rajasthan, leased to SGEL for 28 years.</p>
<p>The estimated cost of the project is ₹5.5 billion (~$66.47 million) and is expected to be commissioned within 18 months.</p>
<p>The project developed on a build-own-operate basis is expected to generate 252 MU in the first year and 5,866 MU over its 25-year project lifetime.</p>
<p>Recently, SGEL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-50-mw-solar-project-assam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke</a> ground for its 50 MW solar power project at the Sitalmari village of Sonitpur district in Assam.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of tender activity in real time.</p>


SJVN Inks Agreements to Supply 600 MW Solar Power in Rajasthan

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