SECI Extends Bid Deadline for Projects in Andaman and Ladakh

SECI has announced the extension in the bid submission deadline for its tenders for setting up solar projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Ladakh.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has announced the extension in the bid submission deadline for its tenders for setting up solar power projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Ladakh.

For its tenders for the selection of solar power developers for setting up of 4 MW grid-connected floating solar projects with 2 MW/ 1 MWh Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at the Kalpong Dam in North Andaman, the deadline has been extended for the seventh time.

The last date for bid submission has been extended from May 18, 2020, to June 15, 2020. The techno-commercial bids will now be opened on June 18, 2020.

As per the RfS, which was issued in January, the Electricity Department, Andaman & Nicobar administration (A&NA) shall enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful Bidder selected by SECI based on this RfS for purchase of Floating Solar Power with BESS for a period of 25 years based on the terms, conditions, and provisions of the RfS. The maximum levelised tariff payable to the Project Developer is fixed at INR 8/ kWh for 25 years. This shall be inclusive of all statutory taxes, duties, levies, cess applicable as on the last date of bid submission.

For its tender for the development of 14 MW of solar power projects along with 42 MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at Leh and Kargil in Ladakh under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP)-2015, the nodal agency has extended the bid submission deadline from June 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020, and the technical bids will now be opened on the same date.

In May 2019, we had reported that SECI had issued a new Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) seeking online bids for the development of 14 MW of solar PV power plant with linked 42 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at two locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The two systems (each 7 MW solar plant with 21 MWh BESS facility) will be developed at the Leh and Kargil divisions of the state. In March 2019, the nodal agency had issued a similar NIT for the projects. At the time the RfS document was expected to be released on March 15, 2019. However, there was no further development on the tender or project.

In January 2019, we had reported that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the order of the President of India has launched a new scheme for setting up Solar PV Projects with aggregate battery storage capacity in Leh & Kargil.