Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam (RUVNL) has initiated a bidding process for the development of solar power projects in India, totaling 1,200 MW, with a minimum energy storage system supply of six hours during peak demand periods.
The bidding process will close on April 17, 2023, with the successful bids announced on April 20. The bid processing fee for projects less than 100 MW is ₹500,000 ( plus 18% GST), while bids for 100 MW or more require ₹1.5 million (plus 18%) GST. The selected projects will be used to meet RUVNL’s renewable purchase obligation targets.
To participate in the bidding process, developers must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹1.2 million /MW and provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹1.8 million /MW/project before signing the power purchase agreement. Projects under construction or not yet commissioned are eligible for consideration, but commissioned projects will not be considered. The minimum capacity for each project is 50 MW, with a limit of 1,200 MW for total allocated capacity per bidder. The maximum energy supply during peak hours is 3 MWh per 1 MW of contracted capacity.
Bidders must have a net worth of at least ₹12.26 million /MW of quoted capacity and an annual turnover of at least ₹11.08 million /MW of the quoted capacity in the previous financial year. Bidders must also have internal resource generation capability of a minimum of ₹2.22 million /MW of the quoted capacity and an in-principle approval letter from lending institutions committing a Line of Credit for a minimum of ₹2.77 million /MW of the quoted capacity.
The solar projects must be designed for interconnection with the interstate transmission system (ISTS), with the responsibility for ISTS connectivity solely on the developer.
The developer must maintain energy supply to achieve an annual supply corresponding to a capacity utilization factor (CUF) of not less than 90% of the declared value and not more than 120% of the declared CUF value during the PPA duration of 25 years. Bidders from countries that share a land border with India are eligible to participate. Finally, solar modules for the projects must be warranted for peak output wattage, which should not be less than 90% at the end of 10 years and 80% at the end of 25 years.