The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a Navratna enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids from Renewable Energy (RE) Power Developers to establish Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects across India.
Issued through RfS No. SECI/C&P/IPP/13/0012/26-27, the tender aims to procure renewable power with an assured peak supply of 4,800 MWh, equivalent to 1,200 MW for four hours. The projects will be developed on a Build-Own-Operate basis and will include mandatory Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to support scheduled power delivery.
Under the Ministry of Power guidelines, SECI will sign 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with successful bidders. The procurement process will follow a single-stage, two-envelope competitive e-bidding mechanism, followed by an e-Reverse Auction.
Developers will be responsible for arranging land, obtaining grid connectivity and securing all required statutory approvals and clearances. Each bidder can offer a minimum contracted capacity of 50 MW and a maximum of 600 MW.
The tender requires bidders to pay a non-refundable document fee of ₹50,000 plus GST. A bid processing fee of ₹20,000 per MW plus GST is applicable, subject to a maximum of ₹20 lakh plus GST. Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) holding valid Udyam registrations will be exempt from document fees, bid processing fees and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) requirements.
The EMD structure is linked to the capacity of different project components. Bidders must provide ₹9.68 lakh per MW for Solar PV capacity, ₹13.68 lakh per MW for wind and other renewable energy capacity, and ₹2.40 lakh per MWh for ESS capacity. The EMD can be submitted through a Bank Guarantee, Payment on Order Instrument or Insurance Surety Bond and must remain valid for 12 months from the bid submission deadline.
Successful bidders will also have to submit a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) before signing the PPA. The PBG requirement is ₹24.20 lakh per MW for Solar PV, ₹34.20 lakh per MW for wind and other RE capacity, and ₹6 lakh per MWh for ESS. The PBG must remain valid until nine months after the Scheduled Commencement of Supply Date (SCSD).
In addition, successful developers will pay SECI a success charge of ₹1 lakh per MW, plus GST, based on committed installed capacity.
The official RfS notice was issued on October 7, 2026. Developers must achieve financial closure six months before the SCSD, while full project capacity must commence power supply within 18 months from the effective date of the PPA. A maximum six-month grace period is available for delayed supply commencement, subject to pro-rata PBG encashment penalties.
Bidders are required to maintain bid validity for 12 months from the final response submission deadline.
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