The latest 2,000 MW wind auction organised by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) attracted bids ranging between INR2.44/kWh and INR2.65/kWh (approximately US$4c/kWh), a level very close to the lowest bid tariff ever observed in India in Gujarat's 2017 auction for 500 MW (INR2.43/kWh).
The winners at INR2.44/kWh are Torrent Power (500 MW), ReNew Power (400 MW), Green Infra Wind Energy (300 MW) and Inox Wind Infrastructure (200 MW). Other companies won with INR2.45/kWh bids: Adani Green Energy (250 MW), Alfanar (300 MW) and Engie (50 MW). The selected projects are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2019.
This is the third wind power tender conducted by SECI and the first two were held in February and October 2017, respectively, with a capacity of 1,000 MW each. Wind power tariffs are constantly decreasing in India and the second wind auction awarded 1,000 MW of wind power projects with prices dropping down to INR2.64/kWh (US$4c/kWh). Besides, a 500 MW wind auction was held in Gujarat with the lowest bid falling to INR2.43/kWh and another one in Tamil Nadu with a winning bid of INR3.42/kWh.
To reach the 100 GW solar power target by 2022, the Indian government plans to lay out bids for 20 GW of ground-mounted solar projects in the current financial year (ending in March 2018).