Azure Power Announces Results for Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2021

Ebene: Azure Power Global Limited (NYSE: AZRE), a leading independent renewable power producer in India, today announced its consolidated results under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for the fiscal fourth quarter 2021, period ended March 31, 2021.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2021 Period Ended March 31, 2021 Operating Highlights:

• Megawatts (“MW”) Operating* were 1,990 MWs, as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 20% over March 31, 2020. Operating, Contracted & Awarded MW* were 6,955 MWs, as of March 31, 2021. Contracted & Awarded megawatts include 4,000 MWs for which we have received Letters of Award (“LOA”) but the Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) have not yet been signed.
• Operating revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were INR 4,271 million (US$ 58.4 million), an increase of 16% over the quarter ended March 31, 2020. We estimate that our revenues were negatively impacted by approximately INR 50 million (US$ 0.7 million) on account of lower insolation, as compared to our forecast for the quarter.
• Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was INR 2,791 million (US$ 38.1 million). During the quarter, our results were negatively impacted by impairment loss on assets of INR 3,255 million (US$ 44.5 million), partially offset by reversal in stock appreciation rights (SARs) expense of INR 560 million (US$ 7.7 million). Refer to the detailed explanation in the ‘Impairment loss’ and ‘Stock Appreciation Rights expense’ section of the commentary below.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was INR 3,799 million (US$ 52.0 million), an increase of 44% over the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
• Non-GAAP Cash Flow to Equity (“CFe”) from Operating Assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was INR 1,743 million (US$ 23.9 million), an increase of 55% over the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Megawatts Operating and Megawatt Operating, Contracted & Awarded exclude the Rooftop portfolio, for which we entered into an agreement to sell subsequent to fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

We excluded 160 MWs from our Operating, Contracted & Awarded portfolio as of March 31, 2021, and the prior comparative period. We excluded 153 MWs from our Operating portfolio as of March 31, 2021, and 144 MWs from prior comparable period.

The exclusion from prior period is for the purpose of comparison with current year.

Key Operating Metrics

Electricity generation during the quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 was 1,058 million kWh and 3,495 million kWh, respectively, an increase of 190 million kWh or 21.9 %, over the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and an increase of 626 million kWh, or 21.8%, over the year ended March 31, 2020.

The increase in electricity generation was principally a result of an additional 335 MWs of AC (506 MWs DC) operating capacity, including our Rooftop portfolio commissioned since March 31, 2020.

Our Plant Load Factor (“PLF”) for the quarter and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, was 23.4 % and 20.9% respectively, compared to 22.3% and 19.5%, respectively, for the same comparable periods in 2020, which increased principally due to the addition of AC and DC capacity and improved performance by our plants.

We commissioned 156 MWs AC (240 MWs DC) during the three months ended March 31, 2021, and 335 MWs AC (506 MWs DC) during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, including the 6 MWs and 10 MWs (both AC & DC) that we commissioned for our rooftop portfolio for the quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, respectively.

Project cost per megawatt operating (megawatt capacity per the PPA or AC) consists of costs incurred for one megawatt of new solar power plant capacity during the reporting period.

The project cost per megawatt (DC) operating for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 decreased by INR 6.7 million (US$ 0.09 million), or 19%, to INR 28.8 million (US$ 0.39 million) primarily due to lower costs on account of the reduction in solar module prices for the projects commissioned during the period.

The project cost per megawatt (AC) operating for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 was INR 42.9 million (US$ 0.59 million), compared to INR 48.9 million, for the year ended March 31, 2020, on account of a reduction in solar module prices.

Excluding the impact of safeguard duties, the DC and the AC costs per megawatt for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 would have been lower by approximately INR 2.7 million (US$ 0.04 million) and INR 2.8 million (US$ 0.04 million), respectively, and for the prior fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, the DC and the AC costs per megawatt would have been lower by approximately INR 2.9 million and INR 4.9 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2021, our Operating, Contracted & Awarded megawatts were 6,955 MWs. There was no change compared to prior comparable period, other than to reflect the disposal of the rooftop portfolio.

Contracted & Awarded megawatts include 4,000 MWs for which we have received LOAs but the PPAs have not yet been signed.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (“SECI”) has informed us that so far there has not been adequate response from the state electricity distribution companies (“DISCOMs”) for SECI to be able to sign the Power Sale Agreement (“PSA”) at this stage even though we have a LOA.

SECI has mentioned that they will be unable to sign PPAs until PSAs have been signed, and they have committed to inform Azure Power of developments in their efforts with the DISCOMS.

Capital costs, interest rates and foreign exchange rates have improved since Azure Power won the 4 GW auction in December 2019 which have resulted in lower tariffs in other recent SECI auctions.

We expect these savings likely will be passed on to state electricity distribution companies (DISCOMS). We expect a tariff markdown from the price achieved in the auction, which will facilitate signing of PSAs. We will continue our discussions with SECI towards signing PPAs in respect of the 4GW tender and believe the PPAs to be signed in tranches over a period of time.

Megawatts Operating and Megawatts Contracted & Awarded

We measure the rated capacity of our plants in megawatts. Rated capacity is the expected maximum output that a solar power plant can produce without exceeding its design limits. We believe that tracking the growth in aggregate megawatt rated capacity is a measure of the growth rate of our business.

“Megawatts Operating” represents the aggregate cumulative megawatt rated capacity of solar power plants that are commissioned and operational as of the reporting date.

“Megawatts Contracted & Awarded” represents the aggregate megawatt rated capacity of solar power plants pursuant to customer PPAs signed, allotted or won in an auction but not commissioned and operational as of the reporting date.

Source: investors