Mahagenco invites bids to appoint consultants for solar projects

MUMBAI, July 16: To meet the target of setting up 2,500 MW solar photovoltaic capacity under PPP model in the state, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) has invited bids for appointment of consultants for assisting it to prepare a road map for the implementation. The state aims to have an installed capacity of 7,500 MW of solar energy, 5,000 MW of wind energy and 1,000 MW of bagasse based co-generation. "As per the policy, Mahagenco has been asked to set up 2,500 MW capacity on public-private-partnership (PPP) model over the next five years. The generator has invited bids for appointing a consultant to assist it on implementation," Vishwas Pathak, advisor to Maharashtra Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told PTI here today. The state is seeking consultancy services for implementation roadmap, planning and strategy installation of 2,500 MW solar PV capacity under the new solar policy. Maharashtra has come up with a composite policy on renewable energy, in which it has set a target of achieving 14,400 MW of installed capacity in a period of five years and attracting an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore. At present, the share of renewable energy in the state is around 9 percent and the government is expecting it to increase to 15 percent. Mahagenco has an installed capacity of up to 150 MW in districts like Osmanabad and Parbhani. "The consultants will assist us in finding the regions where we can set up the plants, its feasibility, what will be the cost of the project, the revenue sharing model, among others," a Mahagenco spokesperson said.