SECI Invites Bids For 12.25 MW Rooftop Solar Projects Across Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids for the development of around 12.25 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects across Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) buildings under Phase-II of the program. The tender has been issued through a Request for Selection (RfS) under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, where developers will be responsible for the design, engineering, installation, testing, commissioning, grid connectivity, and long-term operation of the solar systems.

According to the tender schedule, the RfS document was released on May 29, 2026. An online pre-bid meeting has been planned for June 9, 2026, at 2:30 PM IST to address queries from prospective bidders. The last date for online bid submission is July 10, 2026, by 6:00 PM IST. Bidders must also submit original offline documents within two working days after the online submission deadline. The techno-commercial bids are scheduled to be opened on July 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM IST.

The selected developers will be required to sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the designated buying entities within 30 days of receiving the Letter of Award. The project is expected to support the expansion of solar energy infrastructure across educational institutions while promoting clean energy adoption.

SECI has specified state-wise Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) requirements based on the allocated project capacity in each region. Odisha has the highest allocation of 1,550 kW and requires an EMD of INR 13.95 lakh. Jharkhand follows with 1,250 kW and an EMD of INR 11.25 lakh, while Punjab requires INR 10.35 lakh for its 1,150 kW allocation. Other states and territories such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Puducherry, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Lakshadweep have varying EMD requirements based on project size. Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) have been exempted from submitting EMD.

In addition to the EMD, successful bidders must provide a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) before project execution. The PBG has been fixed at INR 3,375 per kW for Category A states and INR 3,715 per kW for Category B states. The guarantee must remain valid for at least nine months beyond the scheduled commissioning date. SECI has also allowed developers to meet security requirements through Bank Guarantees, Payment on Order instruments from REC or PFC, and IRDAI-compliant Insurance Surety Bonds.