The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)’s solar PV tender coupled with manufacturing component has been extended again.  The agency has now extended the bid submission deadline to April 4, 2014, from March 18, 2019.

SECI had issued the new tender to set up 3 GW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity linked to 1.5 GW of a solar manufacturing unit in January 2019.

Last year in May, SECI had issued a similar tender for 5 GW of manufacturing capacity linked to ISTS-connected solar projects for an aggregate capacity of 10 GW. This was later reduced to 3 GW where the developers were to be provided guaranteed PPAs of 2,000 MW for a manufacturing capacity of 600 MW. Therefore the total power projects awarded would have remained at 10 GW.

Later, as reported by Mercom, the tender witnessed many extension of bid submission deadline because of lack of interest from the industry.

Last week, SECI amended the provision for “Change in Law” in the Request for Selection for the 3 GW interstate transmission system-connected solar photovoltaic capacity linked tender with 1.5 GW of manufacturing. This was the second time the RfS for this tender was amended.

SECI had tendered the capacity in January 2019 and then issued the first set of amendments to the RfS in February 2019. The minimum capacity for bidding is 1,000 MW of solar capacity linked with 500 MW of solar manufacturing. A single bidder can bid for the entire capacity.

The manufacturing unit and the solar PV projects will be developed on build own operate (BOO) basis. SECI will enter into a power purchase agreement with the successful bidders for the purchase of solar power for 25 years. The maximum tariff payable to the project developer is fixed at ₹2.75 (~$0.039)/ kWh for 25 years.