NTPC Limited has invited bids to develop interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind-solar hybrid projects of capacity up to 600 MW anywhere in India.

NTPC will develop the hybrid power projects through its wholly-owned subsidiary NTPC Renewable Energy Limited.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing, commissioning, and proving the guaranteed performance parameters for solar and wind energy projects.

The last date to submit the bids is May 31, 2021. Bids will be opened on the same day. The pre-bid meeting will take place on May 21.

The offered projects should be hybrid of two resources (wind and solar) where the rated power capacity of one source should be at least 33% of the total offered hybrid project capacity. The projects can be connected to a single injection point or separate injection points in the ISTS network.

The minimum project capacity at a single location is 50 MW, and the maximum capacity at a single location is 600 MW.

The bidder should have designed, supplied, erected, and commissioned grid-connected solar power projects, wind projects, or wind-solar hybrid power projects as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor or a developer of cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or higher, out of which at least one plant should have been of 10 MW or higher capacity. The reference project of 10 MW or higher capacity must have been in operation for at least six months before the bid opening date.

Alternatively, the bidder should have executed in the last ten years an industrial project either as a developer or as an EPC contractor in the area of power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, coal, or any other process industry, of a value of ₹2.42 billion (~$32.31 million) or more in a single project or single work. The project should have been in successful operation for at least one year before the bid opening date.

Also, the bidder should have executed at least one electrical substation of 33 kV or above voltage level, consisting of equipment such as 33 kV or above voltage level circuit breakers and power transformer, either as a developer or as an EPC contractor, which should have been in operation for at least one year before the bid opening date.

For the offered project capacity of 300 MW or below, the bidder’s average annual turnover should be ₹2.42 billion (~$32.31 million) during the last three financial years. For a capacity above 300 MW, the bidder’s average annual turnover should not be less than ₹4.84 billion (~$64.61 million) during the last three financial years. The bidder’s net worth should be positive as on the last day of the preceding financial year.

As per the tender document, only the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) enlisted open category cells and modules will be offered for the projects.

Recently, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) invited bids for setting up 1,200 MW ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects (Tranche-IV) on a build, own, operate basis across India.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, NTPC has so far issued tenders for 830 MW of wind-solar hybrid projects.