SJVN, along with Vena, Tata, ReNew & O2 Power win 700 MW Dholera solar auction

• The lowest tariff discovered at the auction stood at Rs 2.78/KWh and was quoted by Vena Energy and Tata Power

• Vena Energy, Tata Power, and SJVN, won 100 MW of capacities each, while ReNew Power won 200 MW

New Delhi: State-run SJVN Limited, Vena Energy Renewables, Tata Power, ReNew Power and O2 Power have emerged as winners in the auction for 700 MW solar projects for Dholera Solar Park in Gujarat. The tender for the auction had been floated by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) in 2019 and then was reissued in March this year. Dholera solar park is a 5 GW solar power project being developed in two phases in Dholera village, around 80 km from Ahmedabad. The project is being developed by GUVNL through public-private partnership (PPP).

The company is working with Gujarat Power Corporation (GPCL), Gujarat Electric Transmission Corporation (GETCO), Solar Energy Corporation (SECI) and PowerGrid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) for the implementation of the project.

Dholera solar auction: Lowest tariff stood at Rs 2.78/KWh

The lowest tariff discovered at the auction stood at Rs 2.78/KWh and was quoted by Vena Energy and Tata Power. ReNew Solar Power quoted a tariff of Rs 2.79/KWh, while SJVN Limited quoted Rs 2.80/KWh and O2 Power proposed Rs 2.81/KWh. 

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Vena Energy, Tata Power, and SJVN, won 100 MW of capacities each, while ReNew Power won 200 MW. O2 Power, which had placed bids for 500 MW, was awarded only 200 MW of projects under the bucket-filling method.

The backdrop

The tender for the 700 MW solar projects was originally floated by GUVNL in 2019, with a tariff ceiling of Rs 2.75/KWh. The Dholera solar park is expected to cover an area of more than 27,000 acres upon completion. The Gujarat state government said in an official statement issued earlier this year, "The proposed solar park will attract investment of ₹250 billion (~$3.84 billion) and provide employment opportunities to more than 20,000 individuals."

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