Punjab’s power utility — the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) — had floated two tenders for procurement of a total 500 megawatt (MW) solar power. The tenders have been floated on the directives of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

These two solar power projects, having a capacity of 250 MW each, will be located anywhere in India and another in Punjab to meet the rising demand of power in the State to develop and promote green power, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office. The bidders all across the country participated in the tender.

“Under the tender for procurement of 250 MW solar power from projects located anywhere in India, ReNew Dinkar Jyoti Private Limited has offered 250 MW Solar power at the rate of Rs 2.33 per kilowatt-hour (kWh),” said PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director A Venu Prasad.

Prasad said that under the tender for procurement of 250 MW solar power from projects located anywhere in Punjab, SJVN Limited has offered 100 MW Solar power at the rate of Rs 2.69 per kWh and SAEL Limited has offered 50 MW solar power at the rate of Rs 2.69 per kWh.

The CMD also pointed out that PSPCL had also signed PSA with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under which 500 MW hybrid (solar-plus-wind) power shall be available to PSPCL starting from this December in phases and is likely to be fully available by the end of the financial year 2021-22.

Likewise, the PSPCL has also signed an MoU with CESL — a Joint Venture of PSUs under Ministry of Power — for the development of 140 MW Solar PV power projects at spare land of 66 KV Substations of PSPCL to increase the share of clean, green, and low tariff Renewable Power, said Prasad adding that the PSPCL has already tied up for about 951 MW solar power from various projects and PSPCL is committed to serve its consumers with the best quality of reliable and cheap power.

With the addition of this power, PSPCL generation capacity will be enhanced to 14,500 MW, he added.