According to Mercom India Research, nearly 51 GW of solar tenders were floated in 2023.

Here is a curated list of top solar tenders from the year:

The largest tender floated in 2023 was by NHPC, which invited bids to develop 3,000 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power projects across the country. Under this, the bidders had to submit bids for a minimum capacity of 50 MW and multiples of 10 MW thereafter. A bidder could offer to develop projects at multiple locations, with each project having a minimum capacity of 50 MW and the cumulative capacity offered not exceeding 1,000 MW.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) floated the second largest tender to select developers for setting up 2 GW ISTS-connected solar projects (Tranche XI) in India. The power purchase agreement for the projects will be valid for 25 years from the scheduled commissioning date of the projects. The developers are expected to commission the project’s total capacity within 18 months from the effective PPA date. Power procured by SECI from the concerned projects has been provisioned to be sold to different buying entities in India.

NTPC issued the third-largest tender to set up 1,500 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects (Tranche-I) across India. The minimum capacity of each project was set at 50 MW, and the maximum capacity was 750 MW. The solar project developer was directed to maintain energy supply to achieve an annual supply corresponding to an annual capacity utilization factor of not less than 80% of the declared value and not more than 120% during the PPA duration of 25 years.

SJVN floated the fourth largest tender to set up 1,500 MW ISTS-connected solar power projects. Bidders were directed to offer a project capacity between 50 MW and 750 MW. However, for projects located in northeastern states and special category regions, the minimum capacity can be 30 MW. The responsibility for acquiring the necessary land for the project rested with the renewable project developer.

The fifth-largest tender was issued by PFC Consulting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), which invited bids to commission 1,250 MW ISTS-connected solar projects under the program for flexibility in generating and scheduling of thermal-hydropower stations through bundling with renewable energy and storage. Bidders were directed to submit a single bid offering a minimum quantity of 300 MW and a maximum of 1,250 MW. The contracted capacity was to be quoted in multiples of 50 MW only.

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