Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to develop 500 MW Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected offshore wind power projects (Tranche-I).

Bidders must pay a non-refundable document fee of ₹50,000 (~$596.08) and a bid processing fee of ₹2 million (~$23,842).

Bidders should submit an earnest money deposit of ₹3.7 million (~$44,107).

The last date to submit bids is December 10, 2024.

The scope of work includes establishing offshore wind projects connected to an ISTS and setting up the transmission network up to the interconnection/delivery point.

Bidders should supply wind power to SECI per the terms of the request for selection, power purchase agreement, concession agreement, and the Seabed Lease Deed for the identified project site.

The project involves identifying land for onshore manufacturing, storage, and assembly of wind turbine components and wind turbines and other associated parts.

It also includes managing transportation, installation, and commissioning, and ultimately owning the offshore wind power project. The winning bidders must secure approvals,

conduct seabed surveys to validate available data sets and advance the project to financial closure.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, or its designated agency, will enter into the Seabed Lease Deed for 35 years for the offshore wind projects per the offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023. The developer must pay the annual floor lease fee of ₹100000 (~$1,192)/sq.km/year for the entire lease period.

Bidders should have experience in commissioning offshore and onshore wind energy projects. This also includes engineering, procurement, and construction experience for projects that they do not necessarily own.

They should also have experience in commissioning at least two onshore wind/renewable energy projects with individual project sizes of at least 100 MW. Bidders should have experience in commissioning offshore infrastructure projects having a cumulative project cost of not less than ₹40 billion (~$476.86 million).

Bidders should have a minimum net worth / assets under management / investible funds of ₹27.75 billion (~$330 million).

They should also have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹8 billion (~$95.36 million) in the last three financial years.

In May, SECI invited bids to select wind power developers to set up 500 MW ISTS-connected projects anywhere in India Tranche-XVII.