The Solar energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to develop 1,200 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects (Tranche XIII) in the country.

The last date to submit bids is February 18, 2022. Bids will be opened on February 23.

Bidders must furnish ₹1.32 million (~$17,857)/MW as an earnest money deposit. In addition, the successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹3.31 million (~$44,778) /MW/project before signing the power purchase agreements.

The scope of work includes identifying land, installation, and ownership of the project, obtaining connectivity, long-term access, and necessary approval and interconnection with the ISTS network to supply power to SECI.

Bidders can submit a single bid offering a minimum of 50 MW capacity and a maximum of 1,200 MW. Bidders must quote the capacity in multiplies of 10 MW.

Wind project developers will be responsible for the land acquisition required to set up the projects. SECI will not be accountable for it in any manner.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders’ net worth should be ₹ 13.26 million (~$179,386)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the last date of the previous financial year. The minimum annual turnover of bidders must be at least ₹5.18 million (~$70,077)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the previous financial year.

In the form of profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes, the internal resource generation capacity should be at least ₹1.03 million (~$13,934)/MW of the quoted capacity during the last financial year.

The bidder needs to have an in-principal approval letter from the lending institutions committing a ‘Line of Credit’ for a minimum of ₹1.29 million (~$17,451)/MW of the quoted capacity to meet the working capital requirement of the project.

Bidders must also provide information about the wind turbine proposed to be installed in the project at the time of financial closure. Certified wind turbine models listed in the ‘Revised List of Models and Manufacturers’ issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy only will be allowed for deployment under the program.

The declared annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) must not be less than 22%. The wind developers should maintain generation to achieve annual CUF not less than 80% of the declared value and not above 120% of the declared CUF during the 25 years of PPA.

In October 2021, SECI announced a tender to set up 1.2 GW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects (Tranche-XII) in the country.

Mercom had earlier reported that SECI invited bids for setting up 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects (Tranche-V) across India.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, SECI has tendered 17.5 GW of wind projects under Tranche I to XIII.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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