The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has approved tariffs for 136.4 MW solar projects under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

The approvals cover two project batches. The first batch covers 29 projects with a total capacity of 67.5 MW. The second batch consists of 26 projects totaling 68.9 MW.

The approved tariffs ranged from ₹2.48(~$0.027)/kWh to ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh.

The Commission also approved the power purchase agreements (PPA) between the successful bidders of the projects and Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL).

It also advised the petitioners, Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) and UPPCL, to ensure proactive steps to ensure the timely completion of the projects.

Background

UPNEDA had floated tenders to develop and procure power from 2.5 GW of solar projects under Component C of the PM-KUSUM program.

The 2.5 GW solar tender saw 153 bidders quote for 566 substations, totaling 1.6 GW. Further, a letter of award was issued for the bid capacity of 1.6 GW.

Tariffs ranging from ₹2.2 (~$0.024)/kWh to ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh were discovered for the bids received for the 1.6 GW capacity.

The tariffs for 136.4 MW ranged between ₹2.48 (~$0.0312)/kWh and ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh for 136.4 MW of projects.

The petitioners approached the Commission to approve the tariffs and PPAs for 136.4 MW solar projects under the program.

Commission’s Analysis

It added that, in an earlier order, it had determined that bidding was conducted in accordance with the bidding guidelines and had approved 25 PPAs for 118.2 MW projects.

The Commission approved tariffs ranging from ₹2.83 (~$0.027)/kWh to ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh for 136.4 MW of projects.

Project Approval: 67.5 MW

UPERC approved 29 PPAs totaling 67.5 MW and adopted tariffs ranging from ₹2.48 (~$0.0312)/kWh to ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh.

Project Approval: 68.9 MW

UPERC approved 26 PPAs totaling 68.9 MW and adopted tariffs ranging from ₹2.83 (~$0.031)/kWh to ₹2.99 (~$0.033)/kWh.

It urged the petitioners to ensure timely project completion and achieve the objectives under the PM-KUSUM program.

The Commission said that the completion of these feeder-level solarization projects would benefit end consumers by optimizing UPPCL’s purchase costs.

In November, UPERC adopted the tariffs discovered through the competitive bidding process for 25 solar projects totalling 82.6 MW under the PM-KUSUM program.

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