SECI Issues Tender For 1000 MW RTC Thermal Mimic Renewable Power Supply

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) inviting renewable energy power developers to supply 1000 MW of Round-the-Clock Thermal Mimic (RTC-TM) power. The initiative is part of the SECI-RTC-TM-V tender and aims to ensure a reliable and firm supply of electricity to distribution companies by combining renewable energy with energy storage technologies that can replicate the consistent output typically associated with thermal power plants.

Through this tender, SECI is seeking projects capable of delivering firm and dispatchable renewable power to meet the growing demand from distribution companies (DISCOMs). The RTC-TM concept is designed to address one of the key challenges of renewable energy—intermittency—by integrating energy storage systems that allow developers to supply electricity continuously throughout the day.

The selected projects will be connected to the Inter-State Transmission System and developed on a Build-Own-Operate basis. Under this structure, SECI will sign long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the successful bidders for a period of 25 years. The power procured through these agreements will then be sold to various buying entities on a back-to-back basis, allowing distribution companies to access a reliable renewable electricity supply.

To ensure that the renewable projects mimic the reliability of thermal generation, SECI has introduced strict Demand Fulfilment Ratio requirements. Developers will be required to maintain a fulfillment ratio of 90 percent during peak demand hours and 80 percent during off-peak hours, although some seasonal flexibility may apply. On an annual basis, the projects must maintain an average fulfilment ratio of 90 percent. These requirements are intended to ensure that the electricity supply remains consistent and dependable for the grid.

Under the tender guidelines, bidders must propose projects with a minimum capacity of 100 MW and a maximum of 500 MW. The tender remains technology-agnostic, meaning developers are free to choose the renewable technology mix that best suits their project design. However, the inclusion of energy storage systems is mandatory to ensure the dispatchability of renewable power and to support round-the-clock supply commitments.

Developers participating in the tender will also be responsible for securing land for the projects, arranging grid connectivity, and developing the necessary transmission infrastructure up to the designated delivery point.

The tender also outlines specific financial commitments for participating developers. The Earnest Money Deposit and the Performance Bank Guarantee will be calculated based on the proposed capacities of solar power, wind, or other renewable sources, and the energy storage systems included in the project design. In addition, a success charge of Rs. 1,00,000 per MW plus applicable GST will be applied to the installed project capacity.

The bidding process will follow a single-stage, two-envelope system and will be followed by an electronic reverse auction to determine the final tariffs. The RfS was officially issued on March 10, 2026. Developers interested in participating must pay a document fee of Rs. 50,000 plus GST, while the bid processing fee is set at Rs. 20,000 per MW, capped at Rs. 20 lakh plus GST.

According to the tender schedule, the projects must achieve financial closure at least six months before the Scheduled Commencement of the supply date, which is set at 18 months from the effective date of the Power Purchase Agreement. The projects can be located anywhere in India, provided they connect to the inter-state transmission network at a minimum voltage level of 220 kV. This tender represents another major step toward strengthening India’s renewable energy capacity while ensuring grid reliability and meeting the evolving power needs of distribution companies.