The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has invited bids for the selection of Solar Power Developers (SPDs) to set up 3,640 kW grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects under RESCO mode through tariff-based competitive bidding. The Request for Selection (RfS), issued on September 24, 2025, is identified as SECI/C&P/IPP/11/0009/25-26. The projects will be developed at 11 educational and institutional campuses across India, including IIEST Shibpur, NITTTR Kolkata, NITTTR Chennai, IIM Tiruchirappalli, SVPISTM Coimbatore, University of Delhi, RGNAU Amethi, CIIL Mysuru, NIFT Bhubaneswar, and two campuses of HNBGU in Srinagar Garhwal
The tender requires bidders to submit Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) amounts specific to each project. For instance, the EMD is ₹4,41,000 for the 490-kW project at IIEST Shibpur, ₹2,34,000 for the 260-kW project at NITTTR Kolkata, and ₹2,07,000 for the 230-kW project at NITTTR Chennai. The highest EMD listed is ₹6,33,600 for the 640-kW project at HNBGU Srinagar Garhwal (Chauras campus). Other projects, such as the 700 kW IIM Tiruchirappalli, require an EMD of ₹6,30,000, while smaller projects like SVPISTM Coimbatore (100 kW) have an EMD of ₹90,000
In addition to EMD, successful bidders must furnish a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) before signing the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PBG is calculated at ₹3,375 per kW for Category A projects and ₹3,715 per kW for Category B projects, corresponding to the total project capacity awarded. The PBG must remain valid until at least nine months after the scheduled commissioning date of the project. Alternatives such as a Payment on Order Instrument (POI) from PFC or REC, or an Insurance Surety Bond from an IRDAI-approved insurer, are also acceptable.
The bid submission process is entirely online through the ISN-ETS portal, with deadlines and bid-opening schedules specified on the portal and SECI’s website. As an example, provided in the tender, if the last date of bid submission is October 22, 2025, at 18:00 hrs, the deadline for offline submission of EMD instruments will be October 24, 2025, by 18:00 hrs. A pre-bid meeting will also be scheduled, and all clarifications will be shared via the official portal.
The bid processing fee is fixed at ₹6,000, including GST, payable either through NEFT/RTGS transfer to SECI or via demand draft at the time of submission.
Additionally, successful bidders will have to pay service charges of ₹1,350 per kW plus GST for Category A projects and ₹1,485 per kW plus GST for Category B projects, payable in two installments—half within 30 days of the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA) and the remaining before signing the PPA.
The tender provides multiple safeguard mechanisms for SECI, including encashment of EMD if bidders withdraw after submission or fail to sign the PPA within the stipulated period.
The projects are expected to strengthen rooftop solar adoption in premier educational institutions across the country, furthering India’s renewable energy capacity addition.
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