A draft Solar Energy expansion plan for the southern state of Andhra Pradesh sets a timeline for building 3,000 megawatts by 2017, 5,000 megawatts by 2018 and 7,000 megawatts by 2019 according to a news report. Companies will be able to bid for as much as 250 megawatts of capacity with each project capped at 50 megawatts, according to the rules. State-run power trader NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd., known as NVVN, will run the auction and sign 25-year power purchase agreements with the winners.
The solar park will be run by a state-run venture between the Solar Energy Corp. of India, New & Renewable Energy Development Corp. of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp., which will ensure roads, water and power substations are built to support the projects. Companies will be invited shortly to bid for contracts to build these at a “solar park” according to the rules issued by the federal Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. A quarter of the capacity will be required to use locally made panels and cells.
