SECI may reduce solar tender size due to high tariff concerns

BENGALURU: The Solar Energy Corporation of India is likely to reduce the size of its latest solar tender as well as change location specifications, sources said.

The size is being brought down from 2,500MW to 1,800MW. While earlier the projects were to be located at the solar park in Koppal district of Karnataka, SECI has now identified three other spots in the same state where the projects, once they are auctioned, can be built.

SECI is the nodal agency through which the renewable energy ministry conducts wind and solar auctions. It has had second thoughts about Koppal fearing the cost of setting up projects there would be high, pushing up the tariff – to be discovered through the auction – so high that discoms might not buy the power.