<div>Foreign players would not be allowed to bid for NTPC's three new solar power projects of total 750 MW capacity as the state-run utility has restricted the bidding to domestic companies.</div><div> </div><div>This comes at a time when the government is making a strong pitch for its Make in India programme among overseas investors, including for the renewable energy.</div><div> </div><div>According to company sources, domestic entities will be permitted to bid for solar power projects having a combined capacity of 750 MW.</div><div> </div><div>"These three projects of 250 MW capacity each are for domestic manufacturers," the source said.</div><div> </div><div>Refusing to divulge reasons for not permitting foreign companies to bid, sources said the Indian arms of foreign manufacturers would be free to participate in the company's future solar projects.</div><div> </div><div>NTPC had recently invited separate online bids for the three projects - one each in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.</div><div> </div><div>Currently NTPC's 110 MW solar capacity is in operation and its eight projects are in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and other states.</div><div> </div><div>NTPC aims to set up 3,000 MW of solar power projects over the next three years.</div><div> </div><div>US President Barack Obama had recently announced $4 billion investment in India, including $2 billion in renewable energy projects.</div><div> </div><div><span style="line-height: 15.3999996185303px;">NTPC, which produces a quarter of the country's electricity, largely through thermal plants, plans to commission more than 11,500 MW of renewable energy by 2032.</span></div><div> </div><div><div style="line-height: 15.3999996185303px;">The company is executing thermal power projects worth 22,000 MW and another 8,000-10,000 MW capacity is in the pipeline.</div></div><div> </div><div><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wants foreign companies to lead $100 billion of fresh investment to raise India's solar energy capacity 33 times to 100,000 MW by 2022, providing big opportunities for US companies like First Solar and SunEdison.</span></div><div> </div><div>However, the US and India are embroiled in a battle at the World Trade Organisation over state support for solar power. The US said last year that domestic content requirements (DCR) in India's national solar programme were in breach of WTO rules.</div><div> </div><div>Jasmeet Khurana at consultancy Bridge To India played down NTPC's decision, arguing that the DCR were restricted to a small portion of the government's solar target. He expects a majority of the planned expansion will be open to overseas firms.</div>
