Total Eren and EDF Renewables have signed 25-year long term power purchase agreements (PPA) for four solar power projects with an installed capacity of 716 MW. These projects are located in northern India, in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The four projects have been awarded to Eden Renewables India (Eden), which is the equally-owned joint venture of EDF Renewables in India. Out of the four PPAs, one has been signed with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for a solar project with a capacity of 450 MW (equivalent to 300 MW AC capacity) in Rajasthan. Apart from this, Eden has entered three PPAs for two solar projects of 98 MW (equivalent to 70 MW AC capacity) each and one of 70 MW (equivalent to 50 MW AC capacity) with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).

In February this year, Eden Renewables along with Azure Power, and SBSR Power Cleantech Eleven Private Limited (SoftBank) were the other winners of 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar projects while the lowest bidder was ReNew Power. According to Mercom India Solar Project Tracker, Eden Renewables won SECI project by quoting ₹2.60 (~$0.036)/kWh.

Earlier, Mercom reported that Eden Renewables won a 50 MW project at a tariff of ₹3.21 (~$0.0432)/kWh in the 500 MW solar auction in Uttar Pradesh.

In December 2018, EDF Renewables (Bastille Solar) quoted a tariff of ₹3.04 (~$0.0434)/kWh to develop 70 MW of solar, and it also quoted a tariff of ₹3.07 (~$0.0439)/kWh to develop another 70 MW project in Uttar Pradesh’s 550 MW solar auction.

According to the press statement, with a planned production of nearly 1,200 GWh per year, these solar PV projects will generate the energy required to meet the annual electricity needs of over 1 million Indian households.

As the construction of these four projects is due to start by the end of this year, it is expected that the commissioning will take place towards the end of 2020.

Eden Renewables India has been developing, building, and operating solar projects jointly-owned by the two partners since 2016. EDF Renewables and Total Eren already operate four solar power projects in India totaling 207 MW of installed capacity in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.

Frédéric Belloy, executive vice-president international operations at EDF Renewables, said that the PPA signed will enable the people of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to have access to clean energy, and projects such as these will enable EDF Group’s Cap 2030 strategy of doubling its renewable energy capacity in operation between 2015 and 2030 across the world, including France.

Recently, EDF Renewables, along with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Green of Africa, won a tender for the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of Noor Midelt Phase 1 solar power project.

Image Credit: Hbkfromckd108 [CC BY-SA 4.0]

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.