On the last day of the year 2018, the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) has issued four tenders. One for solar, one for wind, one hybrid, and one linking solar with manufacturing capacity.

The first tender calls for the setting up of 4 GW of solar PV power projects to supply traction power for the Indian Railways.

The project is linked with setting up of 1,200 MW (per annum) solar manufacturing project under global competitive bidding (Phase-I). The detailed Request for Selection document (RfS) will be available for downloading from January 15, 2019.

Secondly, it has also invited bids for setting up of 1,200 MW ISTS-connected wind solar hybrid power projects (tranche-II). The detailed RfS will be available for downloading from January 18, 2019.

Moreover, SECI has also issued tenders for the setting up of 1,200 MW ISTS connected solar PV power projects (ISTS-III) and wind power projects (Tranche-VI). The detailed RfS will be available for downloading from January 14, 2019, and January 7, 2019 respectively.

Recently, Mercom reported that the 1.2 GW ISTS-connected wind-solar hybrid tender which was floated by SECI has been undersubscribed by 150 MW. In total, the tender received bids aggregating 1,050 MW. Adani Green bid for the maximum capacity of 600 MW whereas SB Energy (SoftBank) bid for 250 MW.

Besides SECI, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has also tendered 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar projects to be developed in the western region of the country.

Earlier in May 2018, SECI had tendered 5 GW of manufacturing capacity linked to ISTS-connected solar projects for an aggregate capacity of 10 GW. This was later reduced to 3 GW where the developers would be provided guaranteed PPAs of 2,000 MW for a manufacturing capacity of 600 MW, therefore the total power projects awarded will remain at 10 GW.