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SECI to develop 500 MW solar projects in Tamil Nadu

The solar project to be developed in multiples of 10 MW will be located at potentially ideal locations across the State.

CHENNAI: The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) will establish 500 MW (Phase I) of grid-connected solar PV projects in Tamil Nadu on Build Own Operate (B-O-O) basis. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) will purchase power from these projects.

The solar project to be developed in multiples of 10 MW will be located at potentially ideal locations across the State. SECI will enter into a power purchase agreement with the successful solar project developers for 25 years. The solar project developer (SPD) will have to show the possession of 100 % of the land identified for the project within 12 months from the date of the power purchase agreement (PPA). SPD should have a minimum area of 1.5 ha /MW for the project capacity it is bidding. The maximum time allowed for commissioning of the full project will be 24 months from the date of the PPA.

Tamil Nadu has an installed capacity of approximately 2 GW solar PV and the state has 1.6 GW of solar PV projects under development. In April, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India has commissioned 200 MW of grid-connected solar projects in the state. And this was part of the 500 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects currently under implementation in Tamil Nadu. In May last year, the NLC had commissioned 300 MW.

Recently, SECI has issued a tender for utilization of water bodies (reservoirs, dams, lakes) in Tamil Nadu for development of 250 MW floating solar PV capacity.

In a bid to provide relief to solar project developers, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has warned the State load dispatch center that it cannot curtail solar generation.

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