SECI Issues Tender for 2000 MW Solar Projects with 1000 MW/4000 MWh Storage Component

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has floated a Request for Selection (RfS) to identify solar power developers for setting up 2,000 MW of ISTS-connected solar photovoltaic projects, coupled with 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh of energy storage systems (ESS) across India.

The projects will be awarded under a tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism. According to the RfS issued on June 12, the tender follows a two-bid system, comprising techno-commercial and financial proposals, submitted exclusively through the portal. A non-refundable document fee of INR 50,000 plus GST and a bid processing fee of INR 20,000/MW (capped at INR 20 lakh) is applicable. Additionally, an earnest money deposit of INR 14.24 lakh per MW per project must be submitted in the form of bank guarantee, POI, or surety bond.

Bidders may quote for a minimum capacity of 50 MW and up to 1,000 MW, in multiples of 10 MW. However, the total awarded capacity to any bidder, including affiliates and group companies, cannot exceed 1,000 MW. Project locations are to be selected by the developers and must include co-located energy storage. In case of multi-site installations, the ESS must be installed at least at one site.

SECI has clarified that while the installed capacity (solar + ESS) may exceed the contracted capacity, power offtake by SECI shall be restricted to the contracted quantum only. The developers may change the project site or delivery point until financial closure, with a commissioning deadline no later than June 30, 2028.

The technical eligibility mandates use of commercially established and operational technologies. All solar PV modules and cells must be sourced from manufacturers listed under the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) valid at the time of invoicing. Bidders must also comply with mandatory standards, cyber security norms, and install GPS-enabled automatic weather stations (AWS) in line with grid code requirements.

The financial eligibility criteria require a minimum net worth of INR crore per MW as of FY 2024–25 or within a week prior to the bid deadline. This applies to the bidding entity and its affiliates contributing equity or bank guarantees.

Foreign entities are eligible to participate, either independently or through a consortium. However, successful foreign bidders must incorporate an Indian SPV with at least 51 percent ownership before signing the PPA. In the case of consortiums, members must maintain a non-zero equity stake, and the shareholding structure must remain consistent from bidding to project execution.

Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) with valid UDYAM registration as on the last date of bid submission are exempt from the document cost, processing fee, and EMD, provided all consortium members meet MSE criteria.

Pre-bid meetings and bid deadlines will be announced via the  portal and SECI website. The reverse auction details will be shared with eligible bidders at a later stage. This tender aligns with India’s broader ambition to integrate large-scale renewable energy with grid stability solutions, setting a benchmark for utility-scale solar-plus-storage development in the region.