NHPC Looks to Select Solar Power Developer for 3 GW ISTS-Connected Solar Projects

Hydropower development firm, NHPC (National Hydro Electric Power Corporation) has issued a tender for the selection of Solar Power Developer for setting up of 3000 MW (3 GW) ISTS (Inter State Transmission System) connected solar power projects anywhere in India. After conclusion of the bidding process, NHPC shall enter into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the selected bidders, based on this RfS for purchase of solar power for a period of 25 years from the Scheduled Commissioning Date of the project based on the terms, conditions and provisions of the RfS and PPA.

The online bid submission start date is July 20, 2023. The online bid submission closing is on August 3, 2023. The last date of offline submission is August 9, 2023. Bids open on August 11, 2023.

The bid security is INR 5.6 Lacs Per MW in the form of DD/BG/POI subject to minimum of Rs 3 Cr and maximum of Rs 10 Cr per project. The bid validity is 180 days from the technical bid opening date.

The minimum project size will be 50 MW and in multiples of 10 MW thereafter under OPEN category. The cumulative capacity offered should not exceed 1000 MW. Bidder shall quote a single tariff for entire of its projects’ capacity offered, which shall be applicable for all the 25 years.

If the project is transferred or sold to a third party during its tenure (after initial lock-in period of three years after COD), NHPC will retain full rights to operationalize the PPA with the third party, which will be under full obligation to
honour all the obligations and terms & conditions of the PPA, the tender document states.

Selection of Technology

The projects to be selected under this RfS for aggregate capacity of 3000 MW to be installed anywhere in India, provide for deployment of solar PV technology. However, the selection of projects would be technology agnostic within the technology. Crystalline silicon or thin film or CPV, with or without trackers can be installed. Only commercially established and operational technologies can be used to minimize the technology risk and to achieve the timely commissioning of the projects.

The tender can be viewed here.

Earlier, the hydropower major signed an MoU with Torrent Power for the development of renewable energy projects with storage with capacity worth 7,350 MW in Maharashtra. As per the bidding trajectory released by the MNRE in April, NHPC has been allocated 10 GW capacity of bids.