The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has informed that it will issue a request for selection (RfS) for setting up 1,200 MW of inter-state transmission system-connected (ISTS) solar wind hybrid projects in India (Tranche-IV).

The RfS document will be issued by April 15, 2021. SECI has asked prospective bidders to remain updated on its SECI website for further details.

The tender document will also factor in basic customs duty which will be levied by the government on imported solar cells and modules from April 2022.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, SECI has tendered a total of 4.9 GW of solar wind hybrid projects under the ISTS program (Tranche I to Tranche III) and auctioned 1.56 GW under Tranche I & II.

Under Tranche I, the first mega solar-wind hybrid auction held by SECI, a tariff of ₹2.67 (~$0.03794)/kWh emerged as the lowest bid. SECI had initially tendered 2,500 MW of ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects (Tranche-I).

Later, the capacity of the ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid power project was reduced to 1,200 MW. Since the tender was undersubscribed by 150 MW, SECI auctioned only 80% of the bid capacity (1,050 MW), which is 840 MW.

Under Tranche II, Adani Green Energy emerged as the lowest bidder in the auction conducted by the SECI for 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects. Adani Green Energy quoted a tariff of ₹2.69 (~$0.0387)/kWh to set up 600 MW of solar-wind hybrid projects. ReNew power quoted ₹2.70 (~$0.0389/kWh)/kWh to set up 300 MW but will be awarded 120 MW.

Under Tranche III, three companies won 1.2 GW of solar-wind hybrid projects quoting a tariff of ₹2.41 (~$0.0326)/kWh – the lowest-ever for solar-wind hybrid projects. The tariff was discovered in the SECI auction for setting up interstate transmission-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects.

ABC Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Axis Energy, was awarded 380 MW of projects, Adani Renewable Energy Holding Eight Limited was awarded 600 MW, and AMP Energy was awarded 130 MW for ₹2.41 (0.0326)/kWh. ACME Solar quoted ₹2.42 (~$0.0327)/kWh for 300 MW of projects but was awarded only 90 MW under the bucket-filling method.

Mercom’s premium event Mercom India Solar Summit, to be held virtually on April 8 and 9, has an exclusive session on ‘Tenders and Auctions – From Pipeline to PPAs, How We Get There.’ You can click here to register for the event.