SECI announces the launch of 1000 MW Rooftop Solar PV Scheme for Government Sector

The Wind is Blowing, Again

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has announced the launch of a tender of 1000 MW capacity for development of grid-connected rooftop solar capacity for Central Government Ministries/Departments. This is the largest rooftop tender to be launched by SECI, it is expected to give a big boost to Rooftop Solar Power Generation Segment and help in fulfilling the Modi Government’s target for installation of 40 GW rooftop solar power plants by the year 2022.

The 1000 MW tender comes in quick succession to SECI’s earlier tender of 500 MW capacity, targeting buildings in the residential/institutional and social sectors.

SECI has already commissioned over 54 MW capacity of rooftop solar projects under multiple government schemes.

The upcoming 1000 MW tender is especially targeted at utilising the numerous buildings of the Central Government Ministries/Departments. The highlight of this tender is its innovative ‘Achievement-Linked Incentives scheme’ wherein the incentives in terms of capital subsidy shall be provided on the basis of performance achieved by designated Ministries/departments against their committed targets in the given timespan said SECI in a statement.

In this scheme the Grid connected rooftop solar systems shall be installed with the financial assistance for MNRE in the form of Incentives. The power generated from the systems shall be used for meeting the captive requirement of the buildings and the surplus power, if any, shall be fed to the grid under the net-metering arrangement of the respective State.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has allocated 21 Ministries/ Departments to SECI interalia Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs etc. The ministries have assured their commitment with submission of “Green Energy Commitment Certificates” to MNRE for implementation of Grid Connected SPV power plants at the roof of their offices/other buildings, as part of their Clean energy initiatives and achieving National target of alleviating Global Warming.

Based on the indicative list of sites provided by MNRE and various interested Ministries, SECI is carrying out a potential assessment which shall be provided to the solar PV developers (SPD). The solar power developers will be selected state-wise through national competitive bidding process and provision of one Rate / state shall be kept in the scheme. The 1000MW capacity will be distributed between CAPEX and RESCO modes of implementation in the ratio 30/70.

SECI is also introducing a Payment Security Mechanism which is apparently a first in the history of the rooftop programme, with the assurance of all rightful payments to the SPDs under RESCO model. SECI has also tied up with Financial institutes (FIs) Banks such as IREDA and SBI for disbursement of loans with Special Discount Packages to be offered by these institutions to the developers.

A toll-free number is being set up to ensure ease of communication of various stakeholders to SECI.

SECI General Manager Sanjay Sharma speaking to a publication said “The tender will entail target-based incentives, which will be released step-wise as a project developer meets completion timelines and not in one go.”