SECI Floats Tender For 3.54 MW Rooftop Solar Projects Across Premier Institutions

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) for solar power developers to set up 3,540 kW grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects under the RESCO mode. The tender, released on 25 August 2025 with reference number SECI/C&P/IPP/11/0007/25-26, aims to allocate projects through tariff-based competitive bidding. The projects are to be developed at five educational institutions: Sikkim Manipal University (Tadong and Majhitar), Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, Manipur University Imphal, and Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.

The cumulative capacity will be distributed across sites with 550 kW at SMU Tadong, 700 kW at SMU Majhitar, 125 kW at IIIT Guwahati, 165 kW at Manipur University, and 2,000 kW at IIT Guwahati. Ceiling tariffs are fixed at ₹5.15 per kWh for the Sikkim projects and ₹5.00 per kWh for the Assam and Manipur projects. Developers will be responsible for the full scope of work, including design, supply, installation, commissioning, and 25 years of operation and maintenance under the terms of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

For bid participation, developers must submit a non-refundable bid processing fee of ₹6,000 inclusive of GST, payable via NEFT/RTGS or demand draft to SECI. An Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) is mandatory in the form of a bank guarantee, payment on order instrument, or insurance surety bond. The EMD varies by project: ₹5,44,500 for SMU Tadong, ₹6,93,000 for SMU Majhitar, ₹1,23,750 for IIIT Guwahati, ₹1,63,350 for Manipur University, and ₹19,80,000 for IIT Guwahati. Developers quoting for multiple projects must provide EMD amounts cumulatively.

Selected bidders must also submit a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of ₹3,715 per kW corresponding to the allocated project capacity. For example, a bidder allotted 1,000 kW capacity would need to furnish a PBG of ₹37.15 lakh. The PBG should remain valid up to nine months beyond the scheduled commissioning date. Additionally, service charges of ₹1,485 per kW plus GST are payable to SECI, split into two installments—50% within 30 days of the Letter of Award (LoA) and the remainder before signing of the PPA.

The scheduled commissioning date (SCD) is fixed at 12 months from the effective date of the PPA, with a further grace period of six months allowed with penalties. Delays beyond this window will result in a reduction of allocated capacity and forfeiture of bank guarantees. Successful bidders will enter into a 25-year PPA with the respective client organizations. The agreements must be signed within 60 days of the LoA; for instance, if the LoA is issued on 1 October 2025, the PPA deadline would be 30 December 2025.

The projects will support India’s renewable energy target of meeting 50% of total energy requirements from renewables by 2030. Developers are required to secure grid connectivity and net-metering approvals from respective DISCOMs within 90 days of signing the PPA. Non-compliance will result in termination of the PPA and encashment of the PBG.

With stringent timelines and clear financial commitments, SECI’s latest rooftop solar tender seeks to expand clean energy adoption in premier academic institutions while ensuring long-term power supply agreements.