The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has reportedly reduced the capacity on offer in the country’s largest solar-wind hybrid tender. The initial capacity offered in the tender was set at 2.5 gigawatts, which has now been reduced to 1.2 gigawatts.
Significantly, there are a few more changes to the clauses of the tender. The maximum tariff bid allowed has been reduced from Rs 2.93/kWh to Rs 2.60/kWh. Also, developers shall now be required to complete the project within 18 months from the date of signing the power purchase agreement.
The annual effective capacity utilization factor, or CUF, has also been reduced from the earlier 40% to 30%. Project developers will be free to select the site for setting up the solar and wind energy projects.
The minimum share of an individual technology (solar or wind) for the project to qualify as ‘hybrid’ remains the same at 25%.
The maximum capacity a single company or a group of affiliate companies can bid for has been reduced from 600 megawatts to 500 megawatts, while the minimum bid remains 200 megawatts.
It is unclear at this time how much cumulative capacity SECI plans to offer through ‘solar-wind hybrid’ tenders in the future.
Reference- Cleantechnica, SECI website, Mercom India