The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for setting up 14 MW of solar power projects with 42 MWh battery energy storage system (7MW/21MWh each) in Leh and Kargil division.

Both Leh and Kargil will have a 7 MW solar project with battery storage of 21 MWh each.

The detailed Request for Selection Document (RfS) will be available on March 15, 2019.

Recently, Mercom reported that these projects would be developed on a build-own-operate basis. The land for setting up of these solar projects will be facilitated by Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA) and Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA).

The program will be implemented by SECI which will also act as a project management consultant for the entire project. It would include the process of finalization of the detailed project report, selection of solar project developer, project management until project testing, commissioning, and execution of the project by the project developer.

SECI will be responsible for the fund management, releasing of Viability Gap Funding and will also monitor the performances post commissioning of the projects. SECI will be paid 3 percent of the total VGF disbursed, as service charges. The project will have a fixed tariff of ₹2 (~$0.028)/kWh with VGF. The amount of VGF will be decided through competitive bidding. A maximum VGF support of ₹1,820 million (~$25.60 million) will be provided to set up the entire capacity.

The upper limit of VGF is ₹130 million (~$1.83 million) for 1 MW solar project with battery storage of 3 MWh. SECI will release 50 percent of VGF after the supply of equipment at the project site, and the remaining 50 percent of VGF will be given after the successful commissioning of the project.

Last Month, Mercom reported about the discussion between the government and solar developers for the implementation of SECI’s 7.5 GW solar projects planned in J&K.

Previously, in July 2018, SECI issued a tender for the development of two 1.5 MW (AC) solar power projects with battery energy storage system at Tangtse and Durbuk in Leh district of Jammu & Kashmir.

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer