The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has tendered 3 GW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)- connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed across the country.

The bid-submission deadline is April 27, 2018. The tender has been prepared in line with the solar bidding guidelines which were issued by the Ministry of Power in August 2017.

The capacity tendered comprises 12 grid-connected projects of 250 MW each. This is a global tender and the scope of work includes the design, supply, construction, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning of the project.

The SECI has fixed ₹2.93 (~$0.046)/kWh as the upper tariff ceiling for this tender. A single bidder can bid for a minimum of 250 MW and a maximum of 750 MW capacity.

Speaking to Mercom, a SECI official said, “This tender is similar to the 2 GW ISTS-connected solar PV tender by SECI in January 2018. The only difference is that the maximum capacity to be bid for by developers has been increased from 500 MW to 750 MW”.

The successful bidders will also be responsible for the development of the required transmission infrastructure. The maintenance of transmission infrastructure up to delivery point will be taken care of by the project developer.

The projects are to be developed on a Build Own Operate (BOO) basis. SECI will enter into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the bidders of all the projects that are to be developed. The projects need to be commissioned within 15 months from the effective date of the PPA.

According to the tender trajectory issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), 5 GW of solar was to be tendered in the month of February 2018. With this announcement, SECI has tendered more than half of the set target for February.

Mercom previously reported that to meet the MNRE tender targets, SECI tendered a total of 3,225 MW in January 2018.

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