SECI Issues Tender For 2GW Solar Projects With Storage

SECI Issues Tender For 2GW Solar Projects With Storage

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has issued a tender for 2000 Megawatt (MW) of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected solar projects with storage facilities. The SECI tender also talked about a provision for 1000 MW/4000 MWh Energy Storage Systems (ESS), to be awarded through a tariff-based competitive bidding.

The deadline for bid submission is September 4, 2024, with the project expected to be completed within 24 months. Power procured from these projects will be sold to various buying entities. The tender said that the selection will occur via e-bidding followed by an e-reverse auction. As per the mandate of SECI, these bids must offer a minimum of 50 MW and a maximum of 1000 MW of contracted capacity.

The location for the project is at bidder’s/ SPD’ (solar project developer’s) own discretion, the central tendering authority said. However, a single project can be set up at multiple locations. The ESS component needs to be co-located with the project. The tender document said that the ESS of at least 0.5 MW/2 MWh capacity for 1 MW project capacity mandatorily be installed with solar as its only charging source.

Storage parameter

“ESS of at least 0.5 MW/2 MWh capacity for 1 MW Project Capacity shall mandatorily be installed as part of the Project. It is clarified that ESS charged using a source other than solar power would not qualify as solar power. For avoidance of any doubt, it is hereby clarified that ESS may be owned by the SPD or may be tied-up separately with a third party by the SPD, for supply of power. The ESS technology can be changed by the SPD at any time during the Term of the PPA. Any change in the ESS component during the term of the PPA shall be at the risk and cost of SPD and under intimation to SECI,” the tender document said.

However, in the case of a project located at multiple locations, the ESS component needs to be co-located with at least one project component. SECI has also issued a minimum Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) for these projects. It mandated the bidders to ensure a CUF between 25-27 percent.

The bidding process will be completed in a single stage, two-envelope bidding procedure as detailed in the RfS (Request For Selection) Documents.

SECI will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful bidders based on the RfS for purchase of solar power for a period of 25 years.