NHPC Enters Rajasthan, with 600 MW Solar Tender

Hydro energy PSU NHPC (National hydroelectric Power Corp), which has also made some strong solar energy plans, has invited bids for a 600 MW ISTS (Inter State Transmission System) connected solar project. The tender, which covers engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for the project/s, is planned for Deora village of the Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan. Otherwise in the news for land acquisition issues recently.

Interestingly, NHPC had originally been tasked with focus on Telangana, Odisha and J&K for solar development, before it expanded its reach to Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. The addition of Rajasthan now only points to the massive interest the western state, along with Gujarat, is attracting now.

While the last date to submit the bids online is August 31, 2021, offline bids can be submitted till September 6, 2021. The pre-bid meeting will be held on July 28, and the bids will be opened on September 8.

In keeping with recent PSU tenders, O&M (Operations and maintainance) for the plant will be the EPC contractors duty for a10 year period.

Bidders have to meet a minimum average annual turnover of over Rs 1800 in the preceding three years, among other requirements. To participate in the bidding process, bidders must also have a working capital of at least Rs 300 crores .

NHPC currently has an installed Hydropower base of 7071.2 MW from 24 power stations on ownership basis including projects taken up in Joint Venture. Besides, it has also got over 5000 MW under construction. The firm accounts for close to 15 percent of all Hydropower capacity in the country.

It had earlier tendered for, and awarded solar power projects for 2000 MW (2 GW) to developers at a tariff of Rs 2.55 /KwH, with a small amount at Rs 2.56/KwH.

It also has in principal approval from MNRE for development of 1200 MW Solar Power park scheme by Bundelkhand Saur Urja Limited under Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) mode of the Solar Park Scheme in Jalaun Distrcit of Uttar Pradesh.

An MoU has been signed with Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (GEDCOL), for “Development of 500 MW Floating Solar Projects in Odisha under UMREPP” on 20th July 2020 with total estimated investment of Rs. 2500 Crore.

The latest tender will take its solar pipeline under development and tendering stage to almost 4.5 GW, a massive change from the situation just a couple of years ago.

(NHPC numbers have been taken from its March 2021 investor presentation, where applicable).