- State price would be beating MNRE benchmark cost reportedly
- After the subsidy, Chhattisgarh has become one of the low-cost rooftop solar PV states for Project implementation
- Zenbi Energy Pvt. Ltd., Greenfinity Powertech Private Ltd. are some of the vendors empaneled by CREDA
According to a report, rooftop Solar PV vendors in Chhattisgarh have bid lower than the central benchmark costs in a empanelment tender for construction of rooftop solar PV projects under Phase-II of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) rooftop program. These vendors have been providing services related to supply and construction of grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects.
It has also been reported that, the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) has issued an empanelment tender for grid-connected rooftop solar PV project under three capacity categories ; category 1 ( 1kW – up to 10 kW), category 2 (above 10 kW – up to 100 kW) and category 3 (above 100 kW – up to 500 kW). The lowest bid for category 1 was Rs. 40,000/kW. These rates are much lesser than the MNRE benchmark rates. Only in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh had the industry witnessed quoted rates below these in Chhattisgarh.
Low-cost solar PV
After the subsidy provided by the MNRE, the state of Chhattisgarh has become one of the low-cost rooftop solar PV states for Project implementation. The MNRE provides 40% of capital cost as subsidy for grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects of capacity 1kW to 3kW ; as a result, in Chhatisgarh the cost per kW for a rooftop project upto 3 kW capacity will be calculated at the rate of Rs. 24,000/kW. MNRE also provides a 20% subsidy on capital incurred for rooftop solar PV Project of capacity 3 kW to 10 kW. To install projects of capacity between 3 and 10 kW, the cost will be Rs. 30,400/kW.
These regulations have allowed Distribution licensee to procure excess energy generated at a rate determined through competitive tariff by DISCOM or lowest bids of SECI’s tender. The company is also looking forward to heightened installation as these rates are feasible for a state like Chhattisgarh.
On the other hand CREDA has empaneled 17 vendor under category 1, 14 under category 2 and 15 under category 3. Zenbi Energy Pvt. Ltd., Comgen Infosystem Pvt. Ltd., Greensol Renewable Power Pvt. Ltd., Electromech Devices MFG Co., Windsun Renewables Pvt. Ltd., Greenfinity Powertech Private Ltd., are few of the empaneled vendors.
