SECI seeks ISTS-connected solar, wind, and storage projects supplying 1 GW on an RTC thermal mimic basis, with strict demand fulfillment requirements
Power supply must begin within 18 months of the PPA signing, with minimum 90% annual delivery
A single bidder can offer 100 MW to 500 MW, covering project setup, ESS, transmission, land, approvals, and ownership responsibilities
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited proposals from inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects to supply 1 GW power on a round-the-clock thermal mimic (RTC-TM) basis. This is the 5th tranche of SECI’s RTC-TM tenders.
With this tender, SECI states the objective is to provide firm and dispatchable (FDRE) power to discoms through renewable energy sources. It will enter 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the winners to procure power supply, which will be sold to different buying entities in India.
Project developers must supply power in an RTC manner, maintaining a minimum demand fulfillment ratio (DFR) of 90% in each time block during peak hours, and a minimum 80% DFR during off-peak hours. On an annual basis, the minimum DFR sought is 90%. The buying entity will then choose any 6-hour duration between 00:00 and 10:00 hours and 18:00 and 24:00 hours of a day as peak hours. The remaining will be off-peak hours. Power supply should begin within 18 months from the effective date of the PPA.
Among eligible renewable energy technologies for this tender are solar PV, wind, and energy storage systems (ESS). All renewable energy projects will need to be accompanied by an ESS component. These can be either co-located or located at separate locations, but connected with the ISTS network.
In case of solar PV, all cells and modules must be procured from a manufacturer listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I and List-II.
A single bidder can submit a bid for a minimum of 100 MW capacity and a maximum of 500 MW. The broad scope of work includes setting up the ISTS-connected renewable energy projects with ESS, including the transmission network up to the interconnection or delivery point. Identification of the land, installation, and project ownership, along with securing relevant approvals, will also fall under the key responsibilities of the bidders.
SECI launched the tender on March 10, 2026, and will accept bids till May 6, 2026.