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 greenshoe option.  

Winning bidders will be required to set up the grid-connected solar PV power projects anywhere in India with interstate 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 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 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 procurement of power supplied by the SPGs. It will procure power generated under 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to be sold to various state utilities/discoms and other beneficiaries. Details the latter will be shared by the 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).