The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has given approvals to three power utility firms in Mumbai for procurement of 959 MW of renewable energy for city consumers.
In the first order, it allowed Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) to procure 234 MW solar power from Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI). The renewable energy will be used to charge electric buses whose fleet is being expanded to 10,000 in 4-5 years. In the second order, MERC allowed Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited for long-term procurement of 500 MW from grid connected renewable energy power projects. This will be complemented with power from any other source on round-the-clock basis, under tariff-based competitive bidding process. In the third order, MERC gave approval to Tata Power for long-term procurement (25 years) of 225 MW capacity from grid-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects through a competitive bidding process for meeting its renewable purchase obligations.