SECI Issues 5 GW Tender for Solar PV Power Plants Linked with PPAs

All the development of manufacturing units and the linked solar PV projects will be on the bases of build own operate (BOO) basis. Furthermore, SECI will enter into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful Bidders selected based on this request for selection (RfS) for purchase of Solar Power for a period of 25 years based on the terms, conditions and provisions of the RfS.

A tender of 5 GW of manufacturing capacity to be set up across the country has been issued by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The bid submission deadline is 27 August 2018.

A fusion of inter-state transmission system (ISTS) and solar photovoltaic (PV), the manufacturing capacity will have an aggregate capacity of 10 GW.

All the development of manufacturing units and the linked solar PV projects will be on the bases of build own operate (BOO) basis. Furthermore, SECI will enter into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful Bidders selected based on this request for selection (RfS) for purchase of Solar Power for a period of 25 years based on the terms, conditions and provisions of the RfS.

All the selections of solar project developers (SPDs) will be made through competitive bidding which will follow by e-reverse auction for the projects. The SPDs will be allowed assured PPAs for double of the capacity of Solar Manufacturing Plant. The SPDs have to set up ISTS Connected Solar PV Power Plants on Build Own Operate (BOO) basis in accordance with the provisions of this RfS document and standard Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of capacity twice that of the manufacturing capacity allocated to it. Thus, the total Solar PV Power Plant capacity would be 10GW for manufacturing capacity of 5GW.

The minimum capacity for which any bidder could bid for, would be of 1GW of manufacturing linked to 2GW of assured off take of Power. However, any bidder would be free to bid for the entire 5GW manufacturing, linked to 10GW Power Plant for which assured offtake would be given. The slab for bidding would be 1GW each and capacity(ies) shall be allocated on bucket filling basis.

The SPDs would be allowed to set up ISTS Connected Solar PV Power Plant in parallel with setting up of manufacturing facility, i.e. the mandatory requirement of using self-produced modules in the Solar PV Power Plants under this scheme, will not be there.

This can be set up either through imported modules or through modules manufactured by the manufacturing unit being set up by the bidder or through any other domestic modules. For this ISTS Connected Solar PV Power Plant, an assured offtake in the form of PPAs for Solar Power generated in these plants would be given.

The Solar PV Power Plant will be allowed staggered commissioning over a period of 04 (Four) years, with minimum 25 percent of the cumulative allocated capacity being commissioned every year.