Greentech Lead India: 10 companies are planning to set up
solar projects in Karnataka. These projects will come up under the Karnataka
Solar Mission over the next six months.
Eight companies will establish solar photovoltaic
projects for 60 MW, while two will set up solar thermal projects of 10 MW each.
“Most projects will come up in North Karnataka. KREDL
will help in giving out government land on lease to companies that don’t have
their own land,” said NS Prasanna Kumar, managing director of Karnataka
Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL).
Twenty-two companies participated in the tender for
setting up 80 MW solar thermal and solar photovoltaic projects.
KREDL, the State nodal agency for promoting renewable
energy, had invited them to set up solar projects. This was as part of
Karnataka Solar Mission targeting 350 MW of solar projects by 2016, according
to a report in Hindu Business Line.
“The next round of tenders will be floated soon after the
financial closure for all these projects is achieved. It could be about six
months from now,” Kumar added.
The state has allocated these projects under reverse
bidding process where projects will be allocated to bidders who have quoted the
steepest discounts to the tariff of Rs 14.50 fixed by KREDL.
For photovoltaic plants, Helena Power Private and Jindal
Aluminium have offered the highest discounts of 656 and 625 paise per unit and
have been allotted 10 MW capacity each.
Sunborne Energy Services India and Atria Power
Corporation will be setting up solar thermal plants, offering discounts of 41
and 3 paise per unit, respectively.
KREDL said that the allocations for the State policy
would be made only after the National Solar Mission bids were closed. Meanwhile,
following complaints by small time developers, the State Energy Department had
issued a stay order on the process, which caused further delay.