21 Dec, 2011, 04.30AM IST, Viraj DesaiViraj Desai,ET Bureau

Power Grids to get 400 mw solar power by December-end

NEW DELHI: The ministry of new and renewable energy expects that 400 MW solar power will flow to the grid by the end of this financial year as many projects awarded last year are nearing completion, two government officials said.

The ministry has so far achieved 183-MW generation capacity since the solar mission was launched in January last year with a thin generation base of 3 MW, they said.

"The optimism is also reflected in aggressive investors' bids that lead to its tariff falling significantly below regulated rates," said an official who did not wish to be identified. The solar power tariff, which was as high as Rs 17.91 per unit in November 2010, has dropped by over 58% at Rs 7.49 per unit, the bid offered by French company, SolaireDirect SA, in the latest auction earlier this month.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) limits solar power tariff and bidders quote rates below that price. "The solar power tariff is inching closer to domestic coal-based power tariff. It is certainly cheaper than power generated from imported coal, which costs over Rs 10 per unit," another official said.