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SECI Seeks Bids for 1 GW Round-the-Clock Renewable Power Supply Under RTC-TM Scheme

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for the supply of 1 GW of round-the-clock thermal mimic (RTC-TM) power from renewable energy projects connected to the interstate transmission system (ISTS). The selected developers will supply electricity for a period of 25 years.

The deadline for submitting bids is May 4, 2026, while bid opening is scheduled for May 7. The tender involves setting up renewable energy projects integrated with energy storage systems to deliver a reliable power supply to SECI.

Under the scope of the tender, developers must identify project sites, install and own the renewable energy facilities, and secure grid connectivity. They will also be responsible for obtaining all regulatory approvals and ensuring interconnection with the ISTS network, the state transmission utility (STU), or the intrastate transmission system (InSTS).

Bidders must pay a bid document fee of Rs 50,000 and a bid processing fee of Rs 20,000 per MW. The earnest money deposit (EMD) will be calculated based on the installed capacities of solar, wind, and energy storage components included in the project. In addition, developers must furnish a performance bank guarantee calculated using a separate formula linked to the capacities of the renewable and storage components.

Selected bidders will also need to pay success charges of up to Rs 100,000 per MW and payment security mechanism charges of up to Rs 0.02 per kWh. They will be responsible for transmitting power up to the interconnection point and covering all related transmission expenses.

Developers with existing renewable energy or storage projects that have untied capacity, including those under construction, are also eligible to participate. Projects must be designed to connect to ISTS substations at a minimum voltage level of 220 kV. For projects connected to the STU or intrastate transmission network, the interconnection voltage must comply with state regulations.

Energy storage systems used in the projects must be charged using renewable power. These storage facilities can either be owned by the project developer or by a third party and may be located at the same site as the renewable project or at a separate location.

Successful bidders must maintain a demand fulfillment ratio of at least 90% during peak hours and 80% during off-peak hours in every time block. However, developers may nominate two months between July and September when the requirement can be relaxed to 70%. Overall, the projects must achieve an annual demand fulfillment ratio of at least 90%.

The buying entity will designate six hours each day as peak demand periods within the time windows of 00:00–10:00 and 18:00–24:00. The renewable energy projects must be commissioned within 18 months from the effective date of the power purchase agreement.

Only commercially proven technologies are permitted to minimize operational risks and ensure timely power delivery. Wind turbines used in the projects must be certified models listed in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s revised list of models and manufacturers, while solar modules and cells must be sourced from the approved list of models and manufacturers.

To qualify, bidders must have previously commissioned renewable energy projects within the last seven years with capacities linked to the bid size. Participants must quote a minimum capacity of 100 MW and can bid for up to 500 MW.

Financial eligibility requires bidders to maintain a net worth calculated based on the installed capacities of solar, wind, and storage components. Additionally, bidders must meet at least one financial criterion, such as maintaining a minimum annual turnover of Rs 4 million per MW in the last financial year, demonstrating internal resource generation capability through profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes of at least Rs 8 million, or presenting an in-principle sanction letter from lending institutions for a line of credit of at least Rs 10 million.