SECI Tenders 750 MW In Rajasthan

• SECI has tendered 750 MW solar power capacity at Bhadla in Rajasthan to supply power to the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh
• Five 100 MW plants with a total capacity of 500 MW have been tendered as part of Badla Solar Park Phase-III
• Bids have been invited for five projects of 50 MW each for 250 MW under Bhadla Phase-IV
• Both bids have an upper limit bidding price of 3.43 ($0.053) per kWh for 25 years
• SECI will be the sole buyer of the entire generating capacity
• Interested bidders have to submit their applications by August 4, 2017

Solar power auction activity in India that had slowed down post the Rewa Solar Power Park auction and the government decision to reconsider all tenders with domestic content requirement is showing signs of recovery now. After the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) tendered 1,500 MW in May 2017 (see TANGEDCO Tenders 1.5 GW PV Capacity), now another big tender has been launched.

This time the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has come out with a 750 MW solar power tender. To be set up in Bhadla, Rajasthan, the project is divided into two parts. One part will have 500 MW and come up as part of the Bhadla Phase-III Solar Park and National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II, Batch-IV, Tranche-XI. This tender will have five projects of 100 MW capacity each and bidders are allowed to bid for the entire capacity.

The Bhadla Phase-III Solar Park is being developed by Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Limited, a joint venture between the state of Rajasthan and IL&FS Energy Development Company limited.

Another 250 MW will be part of Bhadla Phase-IV Solar Park under NSM Phase-II, Batch-IV, Tranche-XII. It will be available as five projects of 50 MW capacity each. Bidders can bid for the entire capacity also. For the 250 MW project, Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Limited (AREPRL) is the solar park implementation agency (SPIA).

Market intelligence firm Mercom Capital Group says this tender is being set up by SECI to supply clean power to the state of Uttar Pradesh. SECI and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently helped Uttar Pradesh prepare a roadmap to develop 750 MW solar power capacity.

It is a come time for a large-scale tender as the government has extended the waiver for inter-state transmission (ISTS) for clean power (see India Extends Solar Waiver Period).

All projects will be set up on build-own-operate basis. SECI will purchase the solar power generated from these projects for a period of 25 years. The entire capacity will be eligible for viability gap funding (VGF).

The ceiling tariff has been fixed at 3.43 INR ($0.053) per kWh for 25 years. In May 2017, SECI awarded 500 MW capacity at a new record low tariff level of 2.44 INR ($0.037) per kWh as part of Bhadla Phase-III (see ACME Wins 200 MW At 2.44 INR Record).

Interested bidders have to submit their applications by August 4, 2017. Further tender details are available on SECI's website.