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SECI Floats 2,000 MW Solar Tender with 4,000 MWh Storage; Bids Due by July 22

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has released a Request for Selection (RfS) to set up 2,000 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects, coupled with 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh of energy storage systems (ESS). Bidders must submit proposals by July 22, 2025, with bid openings scheduled for July 25.

Key bid requirements include an earnest money deposit of Rs14 lakh, a document fee of Rs50,000, and a bid processing fee of Rs20,000. Participants can propose between 50 MW and 1,000 MW in a single bid. Winners will need to provide a performance bank guarantee of Rs35 lakh per MW.

Developers are responsible for setting up the transmission infrastructure up to the interconnection point and must procure land, obtain all necessary approvals, and ensure project ownership and connectivity. Each 1 MW of solar capacity must be paired with a minimum of 0.5 MW/2 MWh of ESS, and projects must achieve a minimum capital utilization factor of 19%–30%. All cells and modules used must be from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

Financially, bidders must have a net worth of Rs1.43 crore and an annual turnover of Rs0.8 lakh in the last financial year. The move comes as part of a broader push by the Ministry of Power to accelerate battery storage projects under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme, with a revised storage target of 13,200 MWh by May 2027. In a notable precedent, JSW Energy recently won a SECI tender to install a 125 MW/500 MWh standalone BESS in Kerala.