SECI invites bids for 1.2 GW ISTS wind-solar hybrid projects

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has opened a tender inviting bids to set up 1,200 MW interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected wind-solar hybrid power projects on a build, own, operate basis across India in Tranche-4. The minimum bid capacity should be 50 MW, with at least 50 MW of project capacity being proposed at each project site. The maximum capacity has been set at 1,200 MW. The successful bidder will have to submit a performance bank guarantee for a value of Rs 1 million per MW per project latest by seven days before signing the power purchase agreement. The hybrid power projects must be designed for interconnection with the transmission network of the central transmission utility at the voltage level of 220 kV or above. According to the tender, a hybrid power project should comprise two components—one solar and one wind power project. The rated installed project capacity of either of the two components should be at least 33% of the contracted capacity. To ensure only quality systems are installed, the wind turbine models listed in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MoNRE) will have to be used. Bidders have been adviced to take cognisance of the imposition of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on solar cells and modules while preparing their bids. The bidder should provide information about the solar panels and wind turbines to be installed in the project. Eligibility: The bidder’s net worth should be equal to or greater than Rs 1 crore per MW of the quoted capacity, as on the day at least seven days before the bid submission date. The bidder’s annual turnover should be Rs 75 lakh per MW of the quoted capacity during the last financial year. The internal resource generation capacity should be Rs 15 lakh per MW of the quoted capacity as of the previous financial year’s last date. The bidder should also have a sanction letter from the lending institution committing a line of credit for a minimum of Rs 18.75 lakh per MW of the quoted capacity. The last date to submit the bids is 28 May 2021. The pre-bid meeting will be held on April 26. The project should be designed for interconnection with the ISTS per the prevailing Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) regulations. The declared annual capacity utilisation factor should not be less than 30%. In December 2020, three companies won 1.2 GW of solar-wind hybrid projects quoting a tariff of Rs 2.41 per kWh, the lowest-ever for solar-wind hybrid projects. The tariff was discovered in the SECI’s auction for setting up 1.2 GW of interstate transmission-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects under Tranche-3 of the ISTS programme. Earlier, Adani Green Energy had emerged as the lowest bidder in SECI’s auction for 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects under Tranche-2. Adani Green Energy had quoted a tariff of Rs 2.69 kWh to set up 600 MW of solar-wind hybrid projects. According to Mercom India, SECI has issued a total of 3.6 GW of wind-solar hybrid tenders under Tranche 1, 2 and 3, out of which 2.76 GW of capacity has been auctioned. Image Source Also read: Winners of SECI’s 1.2 GW wind auction in Karnataka