JSW Energy Wins 810 MW Blended Wind Capacity Under SECI Tender

JSW Energy has received LoA for a total blended wind capacity of 810 MW from SECI under its tender for setting up of 2500 MW wind projects (Tranche – IX).

JSW Energy has announced that its 100 percent subsidiary JSW Solar has received a Letter of Award (LoA) for a total blended wind capacity of 810 MW from the Solar Energy Corporation Limited (SECI) against a tariff-based competitive bid invited under its tender for setting up of 2500 MW ISTS-connected blended wind power projects (Tranche – IX).

The tender for the selection of developers was issued in June. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) at the time had also issued guidelines for the implementation of ‘scheme for a tariff-based competitive bidding process for procurement of renewable energy power from 2500 MW ISTS connected blended wind power projects’.

In August, we had reported that SECI had accepted bids worth 970 MW for its 2.5 GW ISTS-connected wind projects tender. The nodal agency had accepted only 970 MW capacity to the two successful bidders in Vena Energy (L1) and JSW Energy (L2). Making its entry into the wind energy sector, JSW Solar had submitted the L2 bid of Rs 3.00 per unit and bagged the 810 MW project capacity in the auction.

Vena Energy, which recently won 100 MW capacity as the lowest (L1) bidder in the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited’s (GUVNL’s) solar auction for its 700 MW solar tender, also had its bid accepted for this tender after submitting the L1 bid of Rs 2.99 per unit. The firm was awarded 160 MW wind projects capacity in the auction.

The objective of the scheme is to provide a framework for the procurement of electricity from 2500 MW ISTS grid-connected wind power projects with up to 20 percent blending with solar photovoltaic (PV) power through a transparent bidding process. Moreover, the rated power capacity of wind power project shall be at least 80 percent of the total contracted capacity, said the government.

While the blended wind power project developer would be free to install wind turbines and DC solar PV capacity as per its design of required output including its requirement of auxiliary consumption, it will not be allowed to sell any excess power to any other entity other than SECI, unless refused by SECI.

According to MNRE, the power procured from the project may be used for the fulfillment of solar RPO and non-solar RPO in the proportion of rated capacity of solar and wind power in the plant respectively.