Indian state-owned hydropower utility NHPC Limited has launched a competitive procurement process to source up to 1,200 MW solar PV capacity, with an additional of up to 1,200 MW under a greenshoe option.
Winning bidders will be required to set up the grid-connected solar PV power projects anywhere in India with inter-state transmission system (ISTS) connectivity. Land for these projects needs to be identified and arranged by the solar power generators (SPG).
The minimum capacity a single bidder can bid for is 50 MW, and thereafter in multiples of 10 MW up to a maximum of 600 MW without a greenshoe option. With greenshoe option, the maximum capacity for a single bidder can go up to 1.2 GW.
Eligible projects located in the north-eastern and special category states can offer a minimum capacity of 30 MW.
Projects need to be installed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. The task also includes setting up a dedicated transmission network up to the interconnection/delivery point.
NHPC is the offtaker and intermediary nodal agency for the procurement of power supplied by the SPGs. It will procure power generated under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to be sold to various state utilities/discoms and other beneficiaries. Details for the latter will be shared by NHPC at a later date.
The tender was launched on May 31, 2024. Bids will be admitted till June 29, 2024. Details are available on NHPC's website with Works No. NH/CCW/CC-I/CO-319/PR16924/2.
In November 2023, NHPC auctioned 3 GW ISTS-connected solar PV capacity to the winners, achieving the lowest winning bid of INR 2.52/kWh (see India Solar PV News Snippets).
In April 2024, NHPC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norway's Ocean Sun for the demonstration and implementation of the latter's floating solar energy technology in India. Earlier in October 2023, another state-owned hydropower utility SJVN also announced a collaboration with Ocean Sun (see Indian PSU Partners With Norwegian PV Company).