The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has revamped and reissued the manufacturing linked solar tender which it had initially floated in January 2019.

Now, SECI has tendered 6 GW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects linked with 2 GW of solar manufacturing component.

SECI has set the maximum tariff payable to the project developer at ₹2.75 (~$0.039)/ kWh for 25 years. A SECI official informed that the new tender is very flexible and has been issued after due deliberation and consultation with the minister, principal secretary, as well as manufacturers and major stakeholders.

A single bidder can choose to develop up to 1,500 MW of solar projects linked with 500 MW of solar manufacturing capacity. A total of four projects (each project comprising up to 1,500 MW of solar PV projects capacity linked with 500 MW of solar manufacturing capacity) have been tendered. A single bidder can bid for all the four projects, that is the entire tendered capacity.

Commenting on the previous manufacturing linked tender that failed to garner any interest from developers, and how the new tender is expected to be received, the SECI official said, “Pure manufacturers who are not into project development had informed that it is very tough for them to execute 1.5 GW of solar PV project capacity. We have provided them with the freedom to bid for even zero MW of solar PV project capacity if they don’t find it viable. They are free to bid for just the 500 MW of manufacturing capacity.”

The SECI official further stated even if a bidder is bidding for zero MW of solar project capacity linked to a 500 MW manufacturing capacity; they must offer a tariff for it as the tender will follow reverse bidding and the projects will be awarded based on the quoted tariffs.

In this tender, SECI has specified two bid packages which are as follows:

Bid package A: Under this, two projects will be awarded: 500 MW of cell manufacturing capacity and 500 MW of module manufacturing capacity

Bid package B: Under which 500 MW of ingot manufacturing and 500 MW of wafer manufacturing capacity will be awarded.

For each of these packages, a bidder can choose to bid for up to a maximum of 1.5 GW of solar PV project capacity.

SECI will enter power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the successful bidders who will be responsible for the development of the manufacturing capacity and the connected solar PV project. Land, connectivity, and long-term open access will also be in the scope of work of the developer.

For these projects, SECI has provided a 12-month period for land acquisition, EPC order and equipment, permits and clearances, detailed project report (including a detailed layout for solar manufacturing plant). Moreover, an 18-month period has been given for readiness of major civil works and infrastructure, a 24-month period for manufacturing plant’s commercial operation date for package A and/or B and a 36-month period for the manufacturing plant’s commercial operation date for package A and/or B but with a tariff reduction.

 

Image credit: Waa Solar