The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has extended the bid submission deadline for 2,000 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects to be set up anywhere in India.

The projects are to be connected to the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and the modules under this tender can be imported (open category).

The deadline for the submission of bids has been extended to October 17, 2019. The earlier submission deadline for this tender was September 27, 2019, as reported previously by Mercom.

According to the tender, NHPC—a government-owned hydropower generator, will enter into power purchase agreements for 25 years with the successful bidders. The minimum capacity of each project will be 50 MW and in multiples of 10 MW after that.

The NHPC states that the interested bidder can bid for projects at multiple locations as long as each project has a minimum capacity of 50 MW. However, the bidder is expected to quote a single tariff for the entire project capacity offered.

The minimum tariff payable to the project developer has been revised to ₹2.65 ($0.037)/kWh from ₹2.95 ($0.041)/kWh as mentioned earlier. Bidders are expected to quote a fixed levelized tariff for 25 years.

Apart from the companies incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 2013, a foreign company can also participate on a standalone basis or as a member of a consortium. However, for the signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA), keeping the original shareholding unchanged, it must form an Indian company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.

The net worth of the bidder should at least be ₹10 million (~$0.14 million). The earnest money deposit (EMD) for this tender has been set at ₹1 million ($13,890)/MW.

Also, the capacity utilization factor (CUF) of the solar PV projects selected should not be less than 19%.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, NHPC has 50 MW solar projects in-operation in Tamil Nadu.

Note: The article has been updated with a revised ceiling tariff of ₹2.65 ($0.037)/kWh.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.