Gujarat government buys solar power from private players at Rs 9.13-15 per unit

Despite the developers agreeing to sell solar power as Rs 1.99 per unit, the Gujarat government has raised prices of more than 6,200 million units of solar power from private power producers in the last five years for between Rs 9.13 and Rs 15 per unit.

Purchased Data presented by the state government in the recently concluded budget session of the state legislature shows that between April 2015 and March 2020, Gujarat purchased solar power from a total of 61 private players under the Solar Energy Policy, 2009. Private entities, 38 sold power to Gujarat for Rs 15 per unit, while the remaining 23 players sold Rs 9.13 to Rs 13.59 per unit. Apart from 6,200 million units of solar power, the state government purchased 573 million units of electricity from the same 61 private players from April 61 to September 2020. Kotta Udaipur, Mohan Singh Rathwa. The Government of Gujarat procures power from various institutions through the Gujarat Energy Development Corporation Limited (GUVNL). During this five-year period, the maximum solar power has been purchased from Adani Power Limited, which sold 328 million units at Rs 15 per unit. There was a 10.2 percent increase in the amount of electricity purchased from the Adani Group.

The government has over 200 million units of electricity from each private entity including Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (210 million units), GMR Gujarat Solar Limited (200 million units), Lorox Bio Energy Limited (208) for over Rs 15. Bought at the rate of per unit. Million units), Roha Dychem Private Limited (209 million units) and Alex Astral Power Private Limited (207 million units). Only 14 million units were purchased from Texas Infrastructure & Projects Private Limited, which was 9. Rs 13 per unit – cheapest power sold among 61 players. Experts in the power sector in Gujarat claim that although the price of solar energy has dropped significantly, the government has continued to pay the 2010 rates to private firms. For example, in the auction of 500 MW solar projects conducted by GUVNL in December 2020, the lowest bid was Rs 1.99 per uni

t. GUVNL officials said that the state government is paying Rs 15 per unit as per the 2010-11 power purchase agreements. “There are decisions of the Supreme Court relating to our PPAs that they cannot be reopened. Furthermore, it is largely a one-time investment in renewables that companies need to recover, ”said an official of GUVNL. . The government has continued to pay 2010 rates to private firms. For example, in the auction of 500 MW solar projects conducted by GUVNL in December 2020, the lowest bid was Rs 1.99 per unit. GUVNL officials said that the state government is paying Rs 15 per unit as per the 2010-11 power purchase agreements. “There are decisions of the Supreme Court relating to our PPAs that they cannot be reopened. Furthermore, it is largely a one-time investment in renewables that companies need to recover, ”said an official of GUVNL. . The government has continued to pay 2010 rates to private firms. For example, in the auction of 500 MW solar projects conducted by GUVNL in December 2020, the lowest bid was Rs 1.99 per unit.

GUVNL officials said that the state government is paying Rs 15 per unit as per the 2010-11 power purchase agreements. “There are decisions of the Supreme Court relating to our PPAs that they cannot be reopened. Furthermore, it is largely a one-time investment in renewables that companies need to recover, ”said an official of GUVNL. . 99 was the lowest bid. GUVNL officials said that the state government is paying Rs 15 per unit as per the 2010-11 power purchase agreements. “There are decisions of the Supreme Court relating to our PPAs that they cannot be reopened. Furthermore, it is largely a one-time investment in renewables that companies need to recover, ”said an official of GUVNL. . 99 was the lowest bid. GUVNL officials said that the state government is paying Rs 15 per unit as per the 2010-11 power purchase agreements. “There are decisions of the Supreme Court relating to our PPAs that they cannot be reopened. Furthermore, it is largely a one-time investment in renewables that companies need to recover, ”said an official of GUVNL. .