NTPC Addresses Its Wind Capacity with 300 MW Tender for Projects

Power major NTPC Limited, which has set a 60 GW renewable target for 2032,has invited bids to develop 300 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind energy projects anywhere in India. The tender follows earlier wind tenders from the utility this year. It also marks the continuing recovery in the wind space after a poor 2020. While the minimum bid capacity has been set at 50 MW, a bidder can bid for the full 300 MW parcel too, as seems likely in the current market.

The scope of work from the NTPC tender includes detailed design, engineering, micro-siting, manufacture, supply, erection, testing, commissioning, and installation of wind turbine generators, control panels, reactive power compensating devices, central monitoring, and wind monitoring masts.

The last date to submit the bids is October 19, 2021,with to be opened on the same day. At this stage, it does look like the bid will sail through with prices in the RS 2.60 or less range, considering the state of the market right now.

Bidders will need to show they have built and  commissioned grid-connected wind power projects of a cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or higher, out of which at least one project should have been of 10 MW or higher capacity at a single location. The reference project should have been in successful operation for at least one year before the bid opening date.

Or, the bidder should have executed in the last ten years an industrial project either as a developer or an EPC contractor in the rea of power, steel, oil & gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, or any other process industry of a value of Rs 3 billion or more in a single project. The project should have been in successful operation for at least one year before the bid opening date.

An important proviso is for bidders to have built at least one electrical substation of 132 kV or above, consisting of equipment such as 132 kV or above voltage level circuit breakers and power transformer, either as a developer or an EPC contractor. Once again, the project should have been in successful operation for at least one year before the bid opening day.

Regarding the financial criteria, the average annual turnover of the bidder should be at least Rs 315 crores during the last three financial years. The bidder should have a positive net worth as on the last day of the preceding financial year.

Earlier in April this year, NTPC had tendered for 600 MW of wind projects too. No results have been declared for that effort yet.