SECI Amends its 10 MW Solar Tender, Ceiling Tariff Lowered to Rs 3.14/kWh

SECI has offered amendments for its tender for the selection of SPDs for setting up 10 MW grid-connected solar PV power project to be installed in Jaipur

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has in its latest notification has offered amendments for its RfS/ Tender for the selection of Solar Power Developers (SPDs) for setting up 10 MW grid-connected solar PV power project to be installed in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The key amendment made to the tender documents is the change in the maximum tariff payable to the project developers through the entire duration (25 years) of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The ceiling tariff has been lowered from Rs 3.20/kWh to Rs 3.14/kWh, implying that bidders will now be able to submit bids with a maximum value of Rs 3.14/kWh, beyond which bids will be disqualified.

The other amendment has been issued with regards to the transmission infrastructure for delivering from the project to the grid.

Previously the project should have been connected at 33kV of the 132kV RVPNL Grid Substation located at Bagru where it interconnects to RVPNL/ STU Network of 33/11kV Substation at Bagru (both are approximately 10KM away from the proposed Project location).

Now, the clause reads that the project must be connected at 33kV of the 33kV/220kV RIICO Grid Substation located at Bagru where it interconnects to RVPNL/ STU Network.

Further, the nodal agency has added that the transmission line may be constructed through NHAI Route or RIICO Industrial Area Route. The Under Ground Cable laying may be required in some patches of the RIICO Industrial Area Route where laying of the Over Head Transmission Line may not be feasible.

Similarly, each block of project should now be designed for interconnection with the desired substation at the single point at the Voltage level of 33kV/220kV RIICO Grid Substation located at Bagru.

Recently, we had reported that SECI had extended the bid submission deadline for this tender. The last date of bid submission (both online and offline bids) had been extended till August 7, 2020, and the techno-commercial bids will now be opened on the new bid submission deadline i.e. August 7, 2020.

SECI had issued the tender (RfS), for the selection of SPDs to set up the 10 MW solar power plant at Bagru Kala town, near Chitroli village in Jaipur, in June. As per the RfS, this project will be set up on build, own, operate (BOO)/ RESCO mode and solar power developers and the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) will enter into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for sale of power.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 45 crore and the earnest money deposited (EMD) is fixed at Rs 45 lakh payable to SECI. The developers will have a period of 240 days to complete the work on the commissioning of the project.