The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has extended the deadline to submit bids for its tender for 2 GW of solar and 2 GW of wind projects.

The new deadline for the submission of bids for the 2 GW solar project is May 28, 2020. The earlier date for the submission of bids was May 5, 2020, as previously reported by Mercom.

The bid submission deadline for the 2 GW wind project has been extended from May 6, 2020, to May 26, 2020. The interstate-connected (ISTS) solar and wind power projects have been tendered under tranche-IX of the ISTS program.

SECI had issued the request for selection (RfS) for both the projects in March 2020.

2 GW Solar Tender

Interested bidders are expected to pay a sum of ₹400,000 (~$5,299)/MW as the earnest money deposit (EMD).

A single tariff must be quoted by the bidder for its response to the RfS irrespective of the number of projects the bidder bids for.

According to the tender document, the successful bidder may modify the project configuration in terms of blocks following the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA).

The project may consist of any number of blocks. The minimum voltage level for a single block will be 33 kV.

The scope of work for the 2 GW solar tender includes the acquisition of land, connectivity, and long-term open access approvals by the solar power developer.

The documents stated that applicants are allowed to submit a single bid for quantities between 50 MW and 2 GW in multiples of 10 MW.  The minimum project capacity per project is 50 MW, and the maximum is 300 MW. The total capacity that can be allocated to a single bidder is 2 GW.

The successful bidder will have to pay ₹100,000 (~$1,331)/MW/ project, including 18% goods and service tax (GST) to SECI.

2 GW Wind Tender

SECI issued its 2 GW of ISTS-connected wind projects for setting up the projects on a “build-own-operate” basis.

Earlier, a SECI official told Mercom that the wind tranche-IX 2GW was a retender of the previously announced 1.2 GW wind tender. However, the capacity was increased to 2 GW.

Interested bidders are expected to make an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹600,000 (~$7,949)/ MW.

According to the document, the minimum project size will be 50 MW. A single bidder can be allotted a maximum capacity of 2 GW.

As far as the financial eligibility criteria are concerned, the net worth of the bidder should not be less than ₹12 million (~$159,767)/ MW of the quoted capacity as on the last date of the financial year (FY) 2018-19.

The bidder should have a minimum annual turnover of ₹5.7 million (~$75,889.4)/MW during the previous fiscal year.

In January 2020, Mercom reported that SECI issued another tender to set up 1,200 MW of solar projects under Tranche-VIII.

According to Mercom India Research, SECI has so far tendered 16.7 GW of ISTS solar projects under tranche I to X; and 13.4 GW of ISTS wind projects under tranche I to IX.

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.