Railway Energy Management Company (REMCL) has invited bids to select developers for supplying 500 MW of round-the-clock (RTC) power from grid-connected renewable energy power projects (with or without storage) to the Indian Railways.

The last date to submit bids is February 25, 2025. Bids will be opened on February 27.

Bidders must submit an earnest deposit of ₹980,000 (~$11,367.6)/MW and a performance bank guarantee of ₹2 million (~$23,199.2)/MW.

They must submit a bid document fee of ₹29,500 (~$342.188) and a bid processing fee of ₹1 million (~$11,599.6) plus 18% GST for each project. The success charges will be ₹100,000 (~$1,159.96)/MW plus 18% GST.

REMCL is a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways, which holds 49% of the shares, and RITES, which holds 51%.

The scope of work covers setting up a renewable energy power project with or without storage, including the dedicated transmission network up to the interconnection/ delivery point.  It also entails securing land required for the project.

Bidders must set up the projects on a build-own-operate basis.

Bids must be quoted for a minimum of 100 MW. The tariff quotes for each year will be determined based on the discounting factor of 9.25%, and levelized tariffs will be considered for evaluation.

The project must be commissioned within 24 months.

For the first three contract years, bidders must have 75% annual availability of the power supply, 85% for the remaining contract years, and 50% time-block-wise availability for the entire tenure.

Bidders must use only commercially established and operational technologies.

They must only use type-certified wind turbine models listed in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers. They must also use only solar modules included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.

Bidders must have an annual turnover of ₹48 million (~$556,781)/MW in the last financial year.

If project availability is less than the minimum, damages must be paid at 200% of the applicable tariff for the annual shortfall in energy.

If time block availability is less than 50%, damages must  be paid at 200% of the applicable tariff for the energy shortfall on a time-block basis.

Bidders may sell excess energy to a third party or power exchange.

Reently, REMCL invited bids to survey, prepare, and submit feasibility and detailed project reports for solar projects in various states.

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