SunEdison offers record low solar tariff

US-based SunEdison, the world's largest developer of green energy projects, has offered a tariff of Rs 4.63 per unit for a 500 mw solar power project being set up by state-run utility NTPC in Andhra Pradesh. This is the lowest tariff for solar power and beats the previous record of Rs 5.05 quoted by SkyPower for a 150 mw project in Madhya Pradesh  Stock Market Trading Tips

"Delighted that an all-time low solar tariff of Rs 4.63 has been achieved during reverse e-auction conducted by NTPC," power minister Piyush Goyal tweeted. 

The Andhra project will have 10 units of 50 mw each. A power ministry release said altogether 30 bids were received, totalling 5,500 mw capacity. 

SunEdison's tariff was lower than Rs 4.80 per unit offered by SoftBank of Japan and Rs 4.79 quoted by China's Trina Solar Ltd. Italy's Enel Green Power SpA, Reliance Power Ltd, ReNew Power Ventures Pvt Ltd, Solar Arise, Acme Solar and Orange Renewable Power offered bids of less than Rs 5 per unit Himanshu Tiwari Astrologer Blog

Solar power tariffs stood at Rs 18 per unit in 2012 and has been declining on the back of advancing technology, rising scales and government's thrust on ramping up solar capacity to 100 gw (giga watt) by 2022. 

"The country is changing. With integrity, honesty and economies of scale, the price has come down to near-grid parity. So India will lead the world in its solar thrust," Goyal said. 

"Solar projects have levelised tariff that remains same throughout the project life. Unlike thermal power stations where fuel tariffs rise with fuel cost. In solar, it takes little to operate and maintain — maybe two persons per mw," renewable energy secretary Upendra Tripathi had told TOI recently Indian stock market astrology prediction