ReNew Power announced the commissioning of its 300 MW solar power plant at Pavagada. Its largest solar plant commissioned in terms of capacity till date and will help mitigate 0.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. ReNew Power currently has a solar portfolio of nearly 3 GW across India, including both commissioned and projects under development.ReNew Power has committed to provid efficient clean energy solutions to drive sustainable economic growth in India and do our bit to arrest climate change.(April 2019)

• The Chairman of the State High Level Clearance Committee (SLHCC) approved the KSPDCL's proposal to construct a solar power park in Pavagada taluk. (October 2015)

• Allocation of 500MW - NTPC Limited, on behalf of KSPDCL, awarded contracts to 6 firms for the commissioning of a total of 500 MW of power at Pavaguda. Parampujya Solar Energy Pvt Ltd., Fortum Finnsurya Energy Pvt Ltd., ACME Solar Holdings Pvt Ltd, and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd were awarded 100 MW each, while Yarrow Infrastructure and Renew Power received 50 MW each. Yarrow Infrastructure quoted the lowest tariff of ₹4.78 (7.5¢ US) per unit, Renew Power quoted the highest (₹4.80), while the other 4 firms quoted a tariff of ₹4.79 per unit (April 2016)

• Power sale agreements signed (PSAs) between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and the five ESCOMS. And the state would get the remaining 1,500 MW of power from the solar park from September 2018. (May 2016)

• Work on the solar park began. KSPDCL has signed an agreement with local farmers to lease out their land at Rs 21,000 per acre per year. As per the agreement, the farmers will remain the land owners with rights to sell. The lease amount will be revised by 5 per cent every two years. The lease agreement for the total land for the project will cost Rs 23-25 crore every year. (October 2016)

• NTPC invited bids for 750 MW, split into six blocks of 125 MW each, of solar power capacity at Pavagada. (March 2017)

• The solar park will generate 2,000 MW of power by September 2018. In the first phase, to be ready by December, it would generate 600 MW. (September 2017)

• NTPC has withdrawn from the project; the government will now call a fresh tender as the NTPC informed the government that it would not be able to supply power at the agreed cost. According to the agreement, the NTPC would purchase 600 MW power from six developers at ₹4.80 per unit and supply to the State electricity supply companies at a bundled tariff of ₹3.30 per unit. Tender will be called to generate 600 MW from the solar park and complete the project in the next six to eight months. “Already 600 MW is flowing.  The government is confident of getting bidders for supply of solar power within the KERC capped tariff of ₹3.56 per unit (January 2018)

   

• The Pavagada Solar Park, with a 2000 Mega Watt (MW) capacity spread over 13,000 acres, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 1 March 2018. The park, located in the bone dry region of Pavagada, will help 2,300 farmers earn up to Rs 21,000 per acre of land and has been executed at a cost of Rs 16,500 crore. (February 2018)

• Pavagada Solar Park launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The park's development is anchored by the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp. The project has been executed within a record time of two years, with zero land acquisition, Siddaramaiah said. Moreover, the farmers who have leased out their land are reaping greater benefits with Rs 21,000 per acre being offered as rental, an amount which has the scope to grow by five per cent every two years. The beneficiaries of this project were 2,300 Pavagada farmers. Shakti Sthala is creating new job opportunities and economic growth leading to the prosperity of the people of Pavagada. (March 2018)

• KREDL has amended the bidding guidelines for Solar Park. KREDL had retendered the capacity in April 2018. KREDL has now extended the project commissioning timeframe from 10 months to 12 months and the maximum time-period allowed for achieving the project commissioning along with encashment of performance security and payment of liquidated damages from 14 months to 16 months. (June 2018)

• The 650 MW retendered by KREDL in April 2018, has been awarded 250 MW of solar projects each to Fortum Corporation and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) to be developed in Pavagada solar park at a Tariff of ₹2.85/kWh and 150 MW still remains to be awarded. (July 2018)

• Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) has received a Letter of Award from Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) to develop 250 MW (50 MW x 5) of solar projects at the Pavagada Solar Park. (July 2018)

  TEI previously reported that KREDL awarded 250 MW of solar projects each to Fortum Corporation and TPREL to be developed at the Pavagada. Tariff of ₹2.85 (~$0.042)/kWh was quoted by Fortum and Tata Power. This was part of 650 MW of solar projects for Pavagada solar park which were retendered by KREDL in April 2018.

• The decision for the remaining 150 MW capacity is awaited. TEI previously reported that KREDL has awarded a total capacity of 500 MW to developers for setting up projects located at the Pavagada solar park. Fortum Corporation and Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) have each won a capacity of 250 MW by quoting a tariff of Rs 2.85 per kWh. The LOAs have been issued to the companies on June 28, 2018 and PPAs will be signed within one month from this date. The auction is part of the 650 MW of solar power capacity that was retendered by KREDL in April 2018 to be developed at the Pavagada solar park.  (July 2018)

• The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has re-tendered 150 MW (50 MW x 3) grid connected solar projects to be developed at Pavagada Solar Park in Tumkur district of Karnataka.  Last date to submit bids online is 25 August, 2018, whereas hard-copy bid submissions will be accepted until 27 August, 2018.  The upper ceiling for tariffs has been fixed at Rs. 2.93/kWh.  KREDL tendered 650 MW solar projects at the Pavagada Solar Park, of which 500 MW projects were awarded in auctions. The remaining 150 MW capacity has again been tendered now. (August 2018)

• KREDL has issued a letter of award to develop 150 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the Pavagada Solar Park. Giriraj Renewables has won the auction to develop 150 MW capacity quoting a tariff of Rs. 2.92/kWh to develop three projects of 50 MW each. The Pavagada Solar Park is being developed in 13,000 acres and is expected to have total capacity of 2 GW when it is complete. To facilitate development, the park has been divided into eight blocks of 250 MW each that will have dedicated high voltage supply lines, pooling stations, and a pooling substation for evacuation. (November 2018)

• ReNew Power announced commissioning of its 300 MW solar plant at Pavagada Solar Park in Tumkur district of Karnataka. This is ReNew Power’s largest solar plant commissioned in terms of capacity till date and will help mitigate 0.6 million tonne of CO2 emission per year. (April 2019)