The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has tendered 2.5 GW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind and solar hybrid projects to be developed across the country.

The bid-submission deadline is August 8, 2018.

These hybrid projects will be developed on build own operate basis. SECI will enter 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the successful bidders. SECI has fixed ₹2.93 (~$0.043)/kWh as the upper tariff ceiling for the tender.

A single bidder must bid for a minimum of 200 MW and a maximum of 500 MW. The minimum project size is 50 MW at a single location.

The scope of work includes developing the wind and solar hybrid project. The projects must be designed for inter-connection with transmission network of central transmission utility (CTU) at voltage level of 220 kV or above.

All approvals, permits, and clearances required for setting up of the project (along with connectivity and long term open access) including those required from the state government and local bodies are the responsibility of the project developer.

This is an international tender but Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are not eligible for participation.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had recently issued guidelines for transparent bidding process for implementation of the 2.5 GW ISTS-connected wind solar hybrid program. According to the guidelines, a developer will be allowed a maximum of 27 months to commission the project.

In case of a generation shortfall, the developer will have to pay compensation to SECI. The SECI can, however, write off this compensation if the under generation was due to non-availability of grid for evacuation. In case of over generation, SECI will purchase the excess power generated at the PPA tariff.

This is a rare tender in which the implementing agency will pay PPA tariff for over generation. When asked to comment on this, a SECI official told Mercom, “Hybrid requires a bit of incentivization right now and this a novel idea.”

There is big push for hybrid projects right now and recently the Gujarat government announced a new solar plus wind hybrid power policy in a bid to promote the simultaneous production of wind and solar power in the state.

Mercom previously reported, that SECI recently invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from engineering, procurement, and construction contractors to develop a 160 MW large-scale solar wind hybrid project with an energy storage system in Ramagiri district of Andhra Pradesh.

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