The Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is reported to have issued a Request for Selection (RfS) for developing solar power projects of a total 7,500 MW capacity. These grid connected solar projects would be built in the Kargil and Leh districts of Jammu & Kashmir.

Apparently, the total capacity would be split into three packages, each of 2,500 MW. Package A would be set up in the tentatively identified areas in Tai Suru block and Zanskar sub division of Kargil district. Packages B as well as C would be developed at Nyoma sub division’s Hanley Khaldo area in the Leh district. The brief scope of work comprises of implementing the solar power projects and the setting up of evacuation infrastructure and power transmission up to the delivery point.

Further from the reports, SECI would enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for these projects with successful bidders for a 35 year period. These bidders could avail the fiscal incentives such as tax holidays, excise duties, concessional customs and accelerated depreciation as available for such projects.

Sources familiar with the matter mentioned that the deadline for project commissioning is 48 months from the PPA’s effective date. The maximum time period allotted to commission the full project capacity is a limited time period of 54 months.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had recently issued a scheme for implementing ultra-mega solar projects of 23 GW in Jammu & Kashmir’s Leh and Ladakh regions. The project’s Phase-I would involve setting up 5,000 MW Solar PV Capacity in Leh district and 2,500 MW in Kargil region. This would be the largest tender in India till date in terms of the capacity envisaged.

Additionally, on the last day of 2018, the SECI purportedly issued four tenders for 1.2 GW wind-solar hybrid, 1.2 GW wind power, 1.2 GW solar power, and 4 GW of solar power with manufacturing capacity.