602 MW Bids Received For SECI Rooftop Tender

• SECI has received a total of 602 MW in bids for the 500 MW rooftop capacity it had announced in April 2016, according to Indian consultancy Bridge to India
• Most bids were received for projects up to 25 kW capacity on CAPEX basis; 91 companies handed in bids for a total volume of 240 MW
• Major Indian players in the rooftop category, like Tata Power Solar, Vikram Solar stayed away from this tender
• Bridge to India believes that the actual capacity realized from this tender will be 'much smaller' than tendered owing to inexperience of some bidders

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has received bids for a total of 602 MW for its 500 MW capacity of rooftop solar PV tendered in April (see Largest Indian Rooftop Tender). However, according to clean energy consultancy Bridge to India, many big names in the rooftop segment are missing. The OPEX model, which was offered for 200 MW in this tender, received very little interest compared to the CAPEX model.

For Part A of the tender with a cumulative capacity of 200 MW for projects of more than 25 kW capacity and commissioned under CAPEX basis, SECI has received bids totalling 254 MW from 52 companies. The main bidders were Ujaas Energy, Renew, Hero, Jakson, Bosch, Fourth Partner, Sterling & Wilson and Rays Power.

The main bidders for the 200 MW of projects greater than 25 kW and commissioned on OPEX basis were Ujaas Energy, Renew, Amplus, Cambridge Energy Resources, Cleanmax, Jakson and Boond Engineering. SECI received bids for a total of 108 MW from 16 companies.

The remaining 100 MW for projects up to 25 kW capacity and commissioned on CAPEX basis, for this bids have been received for 240 MW from 91 companies with major bidders being Ujaas, Rays Power and Renew. The actual capacity for this category was 50 MW, which was increased to 100 MW in May 2016 (see SECI Rooftop Tender Changes).

Big names in the rooftop space like Tata Power Solar, SuKam, Chemtrols, Vikram Solar and Thermax did not participate in the tender. The reason for their disinterest, according to Bridge to India, could be the terms and conditions which stipulate completing projects within a year of subsidy grant. The lowest cost bidders for rooftop projects are eligible for a 30% capital subsidy.

Bridge to India points out, "Due to undersubscription in the OPEX category, subsidy
is likely to be provided under the tender for only 407 MW capacity. But we believe that the actual installed solar capacity would be much smaller as some inexperienced bidders are likely to struggle to provide the necessary bank guarantees and some other bidders would not be able to execute the capacities they win. The success rate of past subsidy based tenders from SECI has been around 70% but as this tender is much larger than previous tenders, we expect actual success rate to be in the 50 to 60% range."