250 MW Solar Tender by SECI for Maharashtra projects. Peak tariff set at Rs 2.93

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has today issued a request for selection (RfS) for the setting up of 250 MW of grid connected solar PV power projects as part of the phase – I of developments in the Dondaicha Solar Park, located in Dondaicha of Dhule district, Maharashtra.

SECI wishes to invite proposals for setting up of grid connected Solar PV project at Dondaicha Solar Park on a “Build Own Operate” (B-O-O) basis for an aggregate capacity of 250 MW. The total capacity of the project has been divided into 5 projects each with a cumulative capacity of 50 MW, namely Blocks 1-5 of Phase I. Every bidder will be allowed to only bid in terms of blocks capacity 50 MW, 100 MW and so on and maximum bid capacity per bid will be the full capacity tendered i.e. 250 MW. Selection of the Solar Power Developers (SPDs) according to the norms set by the RfS will be carried out through e-bidding followed by e-Reverse Auction process.

SECI has fixed the maximum tariff payable to the project developer at ₹2.93/ kWh and bidders will have to submit a single tariff for all the projects that they apply for through the RfS.

Selected SPDs will be responsible for setting up of Solar PV Project including the transmission network up to the Interconnection/ Delivery Point, at its own cost. All approvals, permits and clearances required for setting up of the Project including those required from State Government and local bodies shall be in the scope of the SPD. The bidders will be free to avail fiscal incentives like Accelerated Depreciation, Concessional Customs and Excise Duties, Tax Holidays etc. as available for such projects.

The project developer will have to declare the annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) of the project at the time of submission of response to RfS and the declared annual CUF cannot be less than 17 percent. Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹1 million/MW per project in the form of bank guarantee also needs to be provided by the bidder along with the bid. Successful bidders will then enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with SECI for a period of 25 years at the same quoted tariff level for the entire duration of the agreement.

Besides this RfS, SECI has also tendered for the development of 160 MW Solar PV plant with BESS in Ramagiri, Andhra Pradesh. Recently, they also launched a tender for the development of 750 MW solar projects in Rajasthan at a similar tariff rate of ₹2.93/ kWh.