SECI Awards 1200 MW Hybrid Project With A Tariff Of Rs 3.43/Unit

SECI Awards 1200 MW Hybrid Project With A Tariff Of Rs 3.43/Unit

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has now awarded the contracts for its earlier issued tender for 1200 MW to six project developers. The proposed tender was meant to develop the wind-hybrid renewable projects in India for Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).

With the announcements of the results, SECI was able to get a tariff from the range of Rs 3.43 per unit to Rs 3.46 per unit. The lowest tariff was quoted by Juniper Green Energy at Rs 3.43. SECI awarded a block of 150 MW capacity to the project developer under the tender.

Other bidders/developers which won the tender included Asurari Renewable, JSW Energy, Ampin Energy, Datta Power. These four developers had quoted a tariff of Rs 3.45 per unit. On the other hand Avaada Energy which received a block of 240 MW got the tariff of Rs 3.46 per unit.

The central solar energy tendering authority earlier this year had issued the tender seeking solar project developers to develop wind-solar projects in India under Tranche VIII. As per the mandate of the SECI, these project developers were bound to submit their bid before March 29. The bidders were mandated to commission the projects within 24 months after signing the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

While the SECI had issued the tender for 1200 MW, the bid document had said that the minimum bid which could be awarded stood at 50 MW. On the other hand, the highest bid block allocation was proposed upto 600 MW. SECI document also said that the developers had to ensure a total Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) of not less than 30 percent. 

In the last few years, SECI has given a thrust to solar and wind projects. The main benefit of these hybrid projects is better CUF compared to standalone solar projects.