Context :
In a recent notification MNRE has amended “Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of power from grid connected Wind Solar Hybrid Projects” issued by ministry on 14.10.2020.
Government of India issued Wind-Solar Hybrid Solar Policy on 2018 for 2500 MW solar wind hybrid capacity, based on which SECI has bid out 1440 MW wind solar hybrid projects capacity till date.
Amendments:
The Amendments of the guidelines can be summarized as follows:
a. SECI will not be nodal agency anymore for implementation of guidelines and conduct e-bidding process followed by e-reverse auction for eligible bidders.
b. SECI will remain intermediary procurer between DISCOM and Hybrid Power Generator (HPG). The ‘intermediary procurer’ shall buy power from hybrid power generator (HPG) and sell the power to one or more DISCOMs.
c. The intermediary procurer or end procurer of power i.e. DISCOM can be responsible for inviting bid, project preparedness, the condition of bid documentation, site related project project preparatory activities including clearances, tentative time table for bid process etc.
d. For any deviation in bid documentation with the issued guidelines need to be approved by appropriate commissions i.e. CERC/ SERC/ JERC rather than MNRE itself.
e. There will be two different power procurement scenarios as follows:
i. Scenario 1:
Direct procurment of hybrid power by DISCOM from HPG.
By this scheme DISCOM can avoid paying extra trading margin at INR 0.07/Kwh to SECI.
The Payment Security Clause need to be given to HPG by DISCOM as follows:
Revolving Letter Of Credit (LC) of an amount not less than one month’s average billing from the project under construction and Payment Security Fund which shall be suitable to support payment for at least three month’s billing of all the projects tied up with such fund.
In addition of the above two clauses, DISCOM may also choose to provide state government guarantee, in a legally enforceable form, ensuring that there is adequate security to the HPG, both in terms of payment of energy charges and termination compensation if any.
ii. Scenario 2:
Intermediary Procurer procures hybrid power from HPG and Sell to the DISCOMs.
a. The payment security need to be given to HPG by intermediary procurer is given below.
Revolving Letter Of Credit (LC) of an amount not less than one month’s average billing from the project under construction and Payment Security Fund which shall be suitable to support payment for at least three month’s billing of all the projects tied up with such fund. For the purpose of this payment security fund, the intermediary may collect INR 5.0 Lac/MW from HPG. Such charges shall be stipulated clearly in the RFS and shall go to the payment security fund set up for intermediary procurement.
b. Payment security by DISCOM to intermediary procurer.
Revolving Letter Of Credit (LC) of an amount not less than one month’s average billing from the project under construction. State Government guarantee, in a legally enforceable form, such that there is adequate security, both in terms of payment of energy charges and termination compensation if any.
F. In case of ‘Early Commissioning’ the generator will be allowed for partly or fully commissioning before Schedule Commissioning Date (SCD), subject to availability of transmission connectivity and approval of Long Term/ Medium Term/ Short Term transmission access agreement.
G. Delay in Commissioning on account of delay in LTA operationalisation :
For selling power from schedule commissioning date(SCD), HPG should have the signed Long term/ Medium term/Short term transmission agreement (LTA) from CTU/ STU.In case of delay in grant/ operationalisation of LTA by CTU/ STU and /or delay in readiness of the ISTS/ InSTS substation at the delivery point, including readiness of power evacuation are the factors solely attributable to the STU/CTU/transmission licensee and beyond of HPG control. In this case the delays of SCD will be treated with time extension of SCD by competent authority.
The remaining guidelines of first main notification remain unchanged.
