The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for a 100 MW (AC) solar power project along with a 50 MW/150 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The project is slated to be developed at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.
Apart from the design, engineering, supply, construction, and commissioning of the project, the contract will also include operation and maintenance activities for ten years.
As per the tender document, SECI has applied for financing from the World Bank and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward the payments for the project.
The last date for the submission of bids is October 27, 2020, and the pre-bid meeting will take place on September 29, 2020.
Interested bidders will have to pay an amount of ₹70 million (~$951,672) as the earnest money deposit (EMD).
To take part in the competitive bidding process, the bidder should have experience in the renewable energy segment through contracts in the role of contractor, subcontractor, or management contractor for the last three years.
The bidder should have experience in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of ground-mounted solar power projects of a cumulative capacity of at least 50 MW or at least two projects having an individual capacity of 10 MW in the last five years. The projects should have been in operation for at least six months before the last date of bid submission.
Regarding the financial criteria, the minimum average annual turnover of the bidder should be ₹3.45 billion (~$46.9 million) in the last three financial years. The net worth of the bidder for the last financial year should be positive.
Solar projects with battery energy storage systems are gradually gaining traction in India. In the past, SECI has announced a few tenders incorporating BESS with solar projects.
For instance, in January, SECI issued a tender for setting up 4 MW of grid-connected floating solar projects with 2 MW of battery energy storage system. The projects will be developed at Kalpong Dam in Diglipur, located in northern Andaman.
Last year, Mercom reported that SECI issued a tender for 20 MW of floating solar projects with 60 MW BESS on a turnkey basis in the union territory of Lakshadweep.
Recently, SECI once again extended the bid submission deadline for its tender for 14 MW of solar projects with 42 MWh battery energy storage systems (7MW/21 MWh each). The projects are set to be developed at Leh and Kargil. As per the latest announcement, the bid submission deadline has been extended to September 30, 2020.
