Astonfield seeks Rs 19.92 per kWh tariff for solar power from GERC

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Astonfield Solar (Gujarat) Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle floated by Kolkata-based Astonfield Renewable Resources Limited (ARRL), has approached the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) seeking determination of tariff for 25 Mw of solar power at Rs 19.92 per kWh (Kilowatt hour) for 25 years.

Astonfield is setting up a 200-Mw grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Gujarat, for which it has tentatively identified Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan and Surendranagar districts.

In a tariff petition for a 25-Mw solar power project, the company has proposed a levelised tariff of Rs 19.92 per kWh for the next 25 years. The tariff is based on the cost formula worked out by the company.

The company has urged the power regulator to also consider Rs 438.37 crore as the project cost while determining the tariff. This project cost is for 25 Mw of grid-connected solar power. For the entire 200 Mw, the company is pumping in around Rs 3,600 crore.

“GERC has already invited comments, suggestions and objections from stakeholders such as power distribution companies in the state and the tariff will be fixed after hearing the stakeholders,” said a senior official of GERC.

It may be mentioned here that the Gujarat government, in its solar power policy, has fixed the solar power tariff at Rs 13 per kWh for the first 12 years. The tariff applies to all the projects commissioned by December 31, 2010. However, the cost of solar power varies from project to project.

“Based on the location and cost of the project, the cost of power generated from solar energy may range between Rs 13 and 18 per kWh,” the official added.