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 XIV) in the country.

The last date to submit bids is April 03, 2023. Bids will be opened on April 10.

Bidders must furnish ₹1.38 million (~$16,692)/MW as an earnest money deposit. In addition, the successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹2.08 million (~$25,160) /MW/project before signing the power purchase agreements (PPAs).

The scope of work includes land identification, project installation, 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 ₹13.86 million (~$167,653)/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 ₹5.59 million (~$67,617)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the previous financial year.

Bidders must have an internal resource generation capability in the form of profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes for a minimum amount of ₹1.12 million (~$13,547).

They must possess an in-principle sanction letter from a bank committing a line of credit for ₹1.4 million (~$16,932) 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. Only Certified wind turbine models listed in the ‘Revised List of Models and Manufacturers’ issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 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 an annual CUF of not less than 80% of the declared value and not above 120% of the declared CUF during the 25 years of PPA.

SJVN, Scatec India II BV, and O2 Power were the winners in SECI’s Tranche XIII wind auction for 1.2 GW of wind projects.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, SECI has tendered  18.7 GW of wind projects under Tranche I to XIV.