The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has tendered 50 MW of solar under the domestic content requirement (DCR) category at Bhadla Phase-IV Solar Park in Rajasthan. The project will be developed under the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II, Batch-4, Tranche-XI, at Bhadla Phase-IV Solar Park. The bid-submission deadline is February 21, 2017.

The successful developer can avail viability gap funding (VGF) for the project and SECI will enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a 25-year period. The upper limit of VGF is Rs.12.5 million (~$183,172)/MW and the maximum tariff payable to the project developer is fixed at Rs.3.93 (~$0.057)/kWh for 25 years.

The scope of work includes, construction of the 50 MW solar project and development of the transmission network up to the interconnection point. The developer will have to provide for all clearances, approvals, permits and certificates from local and state government bodies.

The developer can utilize benefits of accelerated depreciation, concessional customs and excise duties, and tax holidays, but the SECI has regulated that no developer will be allowed to claim both VGF and accelerated depreciation benefit.

Along with this tender, SECI has also invited bids for 100 MW (Tranche-X) under DCR category, and bids for 750 MW was tendered in November 2016 under open category. With this announcement, SECI has tendered a total of 900 MW under Phase-III and Phase-IV at Bhadla Solar Park.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, under NSM Phase-II, Batch 4 VGF program, tenders for 3,050 MW projects (2,250 in Solar Parks) have been issued. Of this, 375 MW is under the DCR category. Auction results for 970 MW have been announced as of September 2016, and 225 MW of PPAs have been signed in Gujarat.

More tenders are expected in this year under the VGF program, said an official at SECI.

Image Credit: Tata Power