India’s SECI launches 4.8 GWh renewables-plus-storage tender

The Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has issued a tender inviting bids for the development of 1.2 GW of renewable energy projects coupled with 4.8 GWh (1,200 MW x 4 hours) energy storage systems. The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

SECI will enter into 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the successful bidders, acting as an intermediary between the developers and the buying entities, which will be identified at a later stage.

Selected developers will set up interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects integrated with energy storage systems. All generation and storage components must be co-located for each individual project.

The scope of work for developers includes land acquisition, installation, ownership, and obtaining all necessary grid connectivity and regulatory approvals. Projects may be located anywhere in India.

The energy storage component is mandatory and must be charged exclusively through renewable sources. Developers may either own the ESS or arrange vis a third party. The ESS technology can be modified at any time during the PPA term.

Each bidder must submit a single bid for a minimum contracted capacity of 50 MW and a maximum of 600 MW, in integral values only.

As per the tender conditions, developers must deliver 4,000 kWh of energy per MW of contracted capacity during peak hours, as per the schedule provided by the buying entity. For instance, a 100 MW project would be required to deliver up to 400,000 kWh (400 MWh) of energy during peak hours on a daily basis.

From pv magazine India