SECI has pushed its last date for bid submission for the fifth time following the concerns of developers over tariff rates
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has extended the deadline for bid submission to set up wind-solar hybrid renewable energy capacities for the fifth time and scheduled November 14, 2018 as the fresh date.
SECI’s current solar power tariff at Rs. 2.60 per unit is said to be the reason behind the extension. Bidders are unwilling to make bids at this rate as they see higher risks and higher investments with low results in establishing the wind-solar hybrid renewable energy capacities of 1200 MW.  The association had earlier kept the capacity at 2500 MW and the price was fixed at Rs. 2.93 per unit. It reduced both the propositions after the ministry of new and renewable energy’s (MNRE) directions.
SECI to consider developers woes
According to reports, SECI has pushed the deadline this time to consider the concerns of solar developers and sort the issues related to the proposed venture. The association will also be exploring ways to work out the issues put forth by the developers.
Solar power in India
The dream of setting up solar capacities is impacted by a slew of challenges in the country and one of them is that the state governments are unwilling to purchase renewable energy despite the rates being low. According to reports, states eventually pay a higher rate per unit of solar electricity because of fixed charges to thermal power plants even in the case of zero electricity drawn from the latter.
National Wind-solar Hybrid policy
This policy is aimed at curbing the challenges of solar energy in India. It is to promote large grid connected to wind-solar photovoltaic hybrid systems. It suggests that the wind and solar systems be arranged to function from the same grid connection points to optimally utilize the power generation and transmission and achieve a better grid stability. It considers a wind-solar capacity as hybrid if the power capacity of a resource is at least 25 per cent of the rated power capacity of other resources.
