Deendayal Port Authority Issues Tender for 1,000 MWp Ground-Mounted Solar PV Project

The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) has invited proposals from developers for the installation of a 1,000 MWp ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The project is to be developed on DPA-owned land that is inter-tidal, marshy, partially Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-free, and partially under CRZ. Developers will need to undertake significant land filling and development due to the low soil-bearing capacity of the site.

Under the proposed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the selected bidder will supply up to 1,750 million units (MUs) of power annually at DPA’s bus bar. The agreement will run for 25 years, with DPA retaining dispatch rights over the contracted capacity. The project is required to commence supply within 10 months of PPA signing, with a three-month advance notice period.

Eligibility Criteria

The bidding company must demonstrate a minimum free cash flow from business operations of INR 700 crore. Additionally, bidders must have prior experience in installing: one solar PV plant of 800 MWp, or two solar PV plants of 500 MWp each, or three solar PV plants of 400 MWp each.

RFQ Process and Timeline

The Request for Qualification (RFQ) document, including the model PPA, can be obtained in person against a non-refundable payment of INR 10,000 (excluding GST) via demand draft in favour of “Deendayal Port Authority.”

The bidding process follows a strict timeline: The start date, also called T0, is  September 10, 2025. The RFQ documents can be purchased till 15 days from T0 and not beyond that.

The invitation also gives a deadline for technical and price bid submissions, that is 30 days from T0. Furthermore, the Issuance of Letter of Intent (LoI) must be done within 75 days of T0 and the time allotted for final signing of PPA is within 90 days of T0.

Bids remain valid for at least six months from the submission deadline. Participants must also provide an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG), the latter of which will be forfeited if the successful bidder fails to meet qualification requirements.

Site and Environmental Responsibility

Given the project site’s unique conditions - marshy land and partial CRZ classification - the responsibility of obtaining all environmental clearances, consents, and permits lies solely with the developer. DPA has emphasised that construction and operations must comply with all statutory requirements.

DPA plans to procure 1,750 MUs annually from the project, with power delivered at its switchyard bus. The solar system must ensure an annual availability of 98 percent, underlining the project’s high reliability expectations.