- NTPC has launched a tender inviting interested bidders for 1.15 GW solar PV and 150 MW/150 MWh BESS capacity in Cuba
- Solar PV capacity will be awarded in 3 buckets of around 300 MW each, while storage capacity will have 50 MW/50 MWh at each of the 3 locations
- Solar PV capacity will be located across 175 locations in 15 provinces; UNE will enter into 25-year PPAs with the winners
Indian electricity utility NTPC Limited is soliciting bids from solar power developers to install 1.15 GW grid connected solar PV capacity across 175 locations in 15 provinces, and 150 MW/150 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at 3 locations in Cuba.
The request for qualification (RFQ) documents specify brief scope of work as design, financing, construction, installation, commissioning, operation and transfer or dismantling the project on build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis. Project will need to be executed by a new entity to be set up by the developer with 100% foreign capital.
Solar PV project capacity will be awarded in 3 buckets of around 300 MW each, all tendered together. A single bidder can participate in a single or all 3 blocks with a minimum capacity of 50 MW. L1 bidder will be selected basis minimum tariff offered for minimum 50 MW capacity in a block, and remaining bidders will be labeled L2 and L3. As for storage capacity, the 3 locations will each host 50 MW/50 MWh.
If the capacity is available, the agency may award it under bucket filling method with a minimum of 50 MW in a single block.
NTPC has launched the tender in its capacity as the Project Management Consultant (PMC), on behalf of Union Electrica de Cuba (UNE) which is the tendering authority. The latter will enter into 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the winners.
Land for solar power projects is already acquired by the UNE, while that for BESS components it has been identified.
The PMC launched the tender on July 26, 2022, and will accept responses till September 28, 2022. Further details are available on NTPC’s tender website with notice inviting tender (NIT) no. NTPC-2022-TN000001.
Cuba aims to expand the use of solar power to displace large amounts of imported fossil fuels used for conventional power generation. In January 2022, NTPC had invited bids for 900 MW solar capacity in Cuba for UNE (see 900 MW Solar PV Tender In Cuba).
