The Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) recently issued three tenders for the expansion of renewable capacity in the country. One for solar, one for solar with storage, and one for the solar-wind hybrid.

The first tender is for setting up 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects (tranche-IV) on a pan India basis. The detailed Request for Selection (RfS) will be available for downloading by March 8, 2019.

The second tender is for setting up of 1,200 MW ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects (tranche-II). The detailed RfS will be available for download from March 8, 2019.

The third tender is for setting up of 1,200 MW ISTS-connected solar power projects with 3,600 MWh storage (ISTS-V) on a pan India basis. The detailed RfS will be available for download from March 8, 2019.

In the recent (tranche-III) 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar auction by SECI, Mercom had reported that ReNew Power emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder by quoting the lowest tariff of ₹2.55 (~$0.035)/kWh to develop 300 MW solar projects.

In December 2018, in the first mega solar-wind hybrid auction conducted in the country by the SECI, SB Energy emerged as the L1 bidder by quoting a tariff of ₹2.67 (~$0.03794)/kWh.

SECI had initially tendered 2,500 MW of ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects (tranche-I). Later, the capacity of ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power project was reduced to 1,200 MW. Since the tender was undersubscribed by 150 MW, SECI auctioned only 80 percent of the bid capacity (1,050 MW), which is 840 MW.

This month, SECI also issued a tender for 20 MW of floating solar PV projects with 60 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a turnkey basis in the union territory of Lakshadweep.