PTC to sell power from first wind auction to Discoms of 5 states

State electricity distributions companies (Discoms) of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam today signed memorandum of agreements for purchase of electricity from Power Trading Corporation  of India (PTC India), under the country's first successful wind power auction.

The memorandum of agreements (MoAs) for purchase of 1,000 MW wind power under MNRE's first wind auction scheme were signed in New Delhi between PTC and the Discoms of the five states during the two-day conference of power, new and renewable energy and mines ministers of states and union territories.

As per MoAs the Discoms of UP will buy 449.9 MW, Bihar (200 MW), Jharkhand (200 MW), Delhi (100 MW), Assam (50 MW) and Odisha (50MW) of wind power for meeting their non-solar renewable power obligation (RPO).

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued the letter of award (LoA) to the successful wind power developers under the first wind auction scheme on 5 April 2017. The projects are expected to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of LoA.

The first such auction process, carried out for award of wind power concession through e-reverse auction, also saw record low tariff of Rs3.46 per kWh being realised.

With the success of the first wind auction scheme, MNRE is planning another round of wind auction for 1,000 MW capacity wind power projects.

The Scheme is open for all obligated entities purchasing wind power for compliance of their non-solar RPO.

The differentiation between windy and non-windy states has been done away with. The SECI will sign power purchase agreements with selected wind developers and back-to-back power sale agreements with buying utilities.

Further, a provision of 10 per cent additional capacity for central public sector entities (CPSEs) has been kept under the scheme without participation in the bidding. However, they have to supply wind power at the lowest discovered tariff through a bidding process.