Alfanar Projects, Juniper Green Energy, and RIH Renewables (EDF Renewables) were declared winners in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s (GUVNL) auction to set up 500 MW of grid-connected wind power projects anywhere in India (Phase VI) with a greenshoe option of an additional 500 MW.

Alfanar quoted the lowest tariff of ₹3.42 (~$0.0411)/kWh to win 50 MW, followed by Juniper Green Energy, which quoted a tariff of ₹3.44 (~$0.0413)/kWh and won 90 MW.

RIH Renewables, with a bid of ₹3.45 (~$0.0414)/kWh, secured 24 MW out of the 40 MW it had bid for.

Solarcraft Power India also offered a tariff of ₹3.51 (~$0.0421) for 25 MW; however, it did not win the capacity.

Out of the total 500 MW bid capacity, only 164 MW was allotted.

GUVNL had floated the tender earlier in July last year.

The project locations within India are to be determined by the winning bidders.

Successful bidders are mandated to furnish a performance bank guarantee of ₹2 million (~$24,287)/MW for the allotted capacity upon signing the power purchase agreement (PPA).

A 25-year PPA with GUVNL is obligatory for the winning bidders.

The wind project developers will have to bear the responsibility of designing interconnections with the state or central transmission utility through a dedicated transmission line for energy delivery at the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation periphery.

The projects must be commissioned within 24 months of PPA signing, with a minimum capacity of 25 MW (Intra-State Projects) or 50 MW (Inter-State Projects) for the first part of commissioning or 50% of the allocated capacity, whichever is lower.

The tender was open for projects at various stages, including those under construction or not yet commissioned. These projects, not bound by long-term PPAs or existing obligations, will be considered, provided they are not already accepted under other central or state programs.

The wind project developer must guarantee an annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) of no less than 22%, maintaining generation within +20% and -20% of the declared CUF throughout the PPA duration.

In case of underperformance, the developer is liable to pay GUVNL compensation of 50% of the PPA tariff. If generation exceeds 20% of the declared annual CUF, developers can sell the excess power to any entity, with GUVNL having the first right of refusal.

If GUVNL opts to purchase the excess power, the compensation to the developer will be at 75% of the PPA tariff.

Recently, GUVNL invited bids to set up pilot projects of 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Gujarat under tariff-based global competitive bidding (Phase II).

In August 2022, GUVNL invited bids to set up pilot projects of 1 GWh standalone battery energy storage systems in Gujarat.