SECI Floats Tender for 2000 MW Solar Projects (ISTS-IX)

SECI has issued the RfS for selection of solar power developers for setting up of 2000 MW of ISTS-connected solar PV power projects in India (ISTS-IX).

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued the Request for Selection (RfS) document for selection of solar power developers for setting up of 2000 MW of ISTS-connected solar PV power projects in India (ISTS-IX).

As part of the Government of India’s target to achieve a cumulative capacity of 100 GW Solar PV installation by the year 2022, SECI wishes to invite proposals for setting up of ISTS-connected Solar PV projects anywhere in India on “Build Own Operate” (B-O-O) basis for an aggregate capacity of 2000 MW. As per the RfS, the land, connectivity and long term open access will also be in the scope of the solar power developers.

SECI shall enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful Bidder selected based on this RfS for purchase of Solar Power for a period of 25 years based on the terms, conditions and provisions of the RfS. Power procured by SECI from the above Projects has been provisioned to be sold to the different Buying Utilities of India.

Solar PV Power projects are required to be designed for inter-connection with the ISTS substation at a voltage level of 220kV or above. For each Project, the minimum Project capacity shall be 50 MW and the maximum capacity shall be 300 MW. The Project capacity shall remain in multiples of 10 MW only.

SECI had also mentioned that the bidders will declare the annual CUF of the Projects at the time of submission of the response to RfS, and the SPDs will be allowed to revise the same once within the first year after COD. Thereafter, the CUF for the Project shall remain unchanged for the entire term of the PPA. The declared annual CUF shall in no case be less than 17 percent. It shall be the responsibility of the SPD, entirely at its cost and expense to install such number of solar panels and associated equipment (including the arrangement of extra land for such installation) as may be necessary to achieve the required CUF, and for this purpose, SPD shall make its own study and investigation of the GHI and other factors prevalent in the area which has an implication on the quantum of generation.

SPD shall maintain generation so as to achieve annual CUF within + 10 percent and -15 percent of the declared value till the end of 10 years from COD, subject to the annual CUF remaining minimum of 15 percent, and within +10 percent and -20 percent of the declared value of the annual CUF thereafter till the end of the PPA duration of 25 years.

The last date for bid submission is May 5, 2020. A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for April 8, 2020, to address the concerns raised by the prospective bidders.

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