Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to select renewable energy developers to supply 800 MW firm and dispatchable power from Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects, including energy storage systems, under tariff-based competitive bidding.

The projects will be developed under SECI’s Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) III program. The renewable energy developers will be responsible for securing land and connectivity.

The last date for the submission of bids is September 29, 2023. Bids will be opened on October 5.

The bid processing fee is ₹1.5 million (~$18,228).

Bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) based on the total cumulative installed capacity they have committed. The formula for calculating the EMD is as follows:

EMD = [₹928,000 (~$11,145) x rated cumulative installed capacity of solar component (MW) + ₹1.26 million (~$15,181) x rated cumulative installed capacity of wind component (MW) + ₹1.46 million (~$17,583) x rated cumulative installed capacity of the energy storage system (MWh)].

Successful bidders must also provide a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) as a security deposit. The PBG amount will be determined using this formula:

PBG= [₹2.32 million (~$27,864) x rated installed capacity of solar component (MW) + ₹3.16 million (~$37,953) x rated installed capacity of wind component (MW) + ₹3.66 million (~$43,958) x energy storage system capacity (MWh)].

Bidders are required to submit the PBG amount before the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is signed.

The selected bidders must also pay success charges of ₹100,000 (~$1201)/MW of allotted capacity committed per the PPA to be signed to SECI towards administrative overheads, project monitoring activities, and coordination with state authorities.

The scheduled commencement of supply from the full project capacity must be within 24 months of signing the PPA.

Bidders who have already commissioned renewable energy or storage projects or are in the process of constructing such projects and have untied capacity can also participate in the tender. In such cases, they will be given the benefit of a longer PPA commensurate to the duration between the actual date of commencement of supply of power and the scheduled commencement of supply date.

Bidders and their parent companies, affiliates, or any group company must submit a single bid. The bid should offer a minimum cumulative contracted capacity of 50 MW and a maximum cumulative contracted capacity of 400 MW.

The contracted capacity must be quoted in multiples of 10 MW only.

The project must be designed to connect with the ISTS following the regulations of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The connection to the grid and metering should adhere to the relevant grid code, grid connectivity standards, and regulations on communication systems for electricity transmission.

For a contracted capacity of “A” MW per the PPA, the developer must install a solar capacity of a minimum “1.5 x A” MW in Haryana. The remaining capacity may be installed anywhere in India.

The solar capacity installed in Haryana may be connected to the ISTS grid at a minimum voltage level of 220 kV or to the intra-state transmission system grid of the State Transmission Utility (STU) at a minimum voltage level of 33 kV.

The developer will be responsible for arranging and bearing the cost of ISTS connectivity.

The power procured from these projects will be sold to Haryana Power Purchase Centre.

SECI will act as the intermediary nodal agency for procuring and selling this power to the buying entities on a back-to-back basis and based on due performance by the renewable energy developer and the buying entities.

Bidders must have a net worth equal to or greater than a specified amount, which is calculated based on the quoted installed capacity breakup. The net-worth requirement is determined using the formula:

Minimum net-worth requirement = [(₹11.58 million (~$139,081) x rated installed capacity of solar component) + (₹13.86 million (~$166,465) x rated installed capacity of wind power component) + (₹4.8 million (~$57,650) x rated installed capacity of energy storage system component)]

Bidders must demonstrate net worth either as of the last day of the previous financial year 2022-23) or at least seven days before the bid submission deadline.

Additionally, they should have a minimum annual turnover of ₹25.8 million (~$309,870)/MW of the quoted contracted capacity.

Recently, SECI invited bids for selecting renewable energy developers to supply 1.5 GW firm and dispatchable power from ISTS-connected renewable energy projects under tariff-based competitive bidding.

SECI had also invited bids to select renewable energy developers to supply 500 MW of power from ISTS-connected renewable energy projects with storage across India.

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