SJVN Invites Bids for 1200 MW Solar PV Projects with 600 MW/2400 MWh Energy Storage

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVN) has recently floated a tender for selecting solar power developers for setting 1200 MW ISTS-connected solar PV power projects with 600 MW/2400 MWh energy storage systems anywhere in India under tariff-based competitive bidding, on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

According to the RfS document, “The Solar Power Developer (SPD) shall be required to set up ISTS-connected Solar PV Power Projects with Energy Storage System (ESS) including the transmission network up to the Interconnection/ Delivery Point, with the primary objective of supplying Solar PV Power to SJVN.”

It further noted, “ESS of at least 0.5 MW/2 MWh capacity for 1 MW Project Capacity shall mandatorily be installed as part of the Project. It is clarified that ESS charged using a source other than Solar Power would not qualify as Solar Power. Further, the Grid charging of the ESS will not be allowed.”

However, it clarified that ESS may be owned by the SPD or may be tied up separately with a third party by the SPD, for supply of power.

The bidders need to deposit INR 29,500 as a bid document fee. Further, they also need to deposit a bid processing fee of INR 15 Lakh (Plus18 percent GST) for each project. As an earnest money deposit (EMD), bidders need to submit INR 10,82,000 per MW per Project subject to a maximum of INR 35 Crore in the form of a Bank Guarantee/PoI/Insurance Surety Bond.

Selected bidders also need to submit a Performance Guarantee for a value INR 27.05 Lakh/MW corresponding to the contracted capacity for which the PPA is being signed, prior to the signing of the PPA.

The pre-bid meeting will be held on September 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM. The last date for bid submission (soft copy) is October 22, 2024 till 2:00 PM. Hard Copy can be submitted till 3 PM on October 25, 2024. Technical bids will be opened at 4 PM on October 25, 2024.

The tender document specifies the deployment of only Solar PV Technology projects. However, the selection of the projects would be technology agnostic and crystalline silicon or thin film or CPV, with or without trackers can be installed. The bidder, however, shall deploy commercially established and operational technologies to minimise the technology risk and to achieve the commissioning of the projects.

As for financial eligibility, the net worth of the bidder should be equal to or greater than INR 1.082 Crore/MW of the quoted capacity, as on the last date of previous Financial Year, i.e. FY 2023-24 or as on the day at least seven days prior to the bid submission deadline.