NTPC chief for setting up of clean power projects without PPAs

Amid a row between discoms and clean energy developers over renegotiation of tariff, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh on Friday suggested setting up of renewable projects without power purchase agreements (PPAs).

In the current scenario, bankers and financial institutions insist for long-term PPAs before financial closure or fund tie-up of a project.

Participating in a panel discussion here, Singh said buyers can either purchase power on capacity contracts (PPAs) or from market. "There could be long-term contracts but energy can be purchased on a day-to-day basis or monthly basis."
Asked about feasibility of this idea, he said, "10 years back, no one was believing the solar energy prices will come down. Let's not underestimate the power of the development of technology...solar cells would be more efficient and there is offshore wind power."
About stranded gas-based power projects and those running at suboptimal levels, he said, "Invariably, you will find that most of the time, the gas-based capacity on power grid is 4 gigawatt (GW) to 5 GW and rarely goes to 6 GW 7 GW. That is because of the the pricing part. There is a need for some kind of correction on gas pricing."