Hero Solar Energy (Hero Future Energies), Hexa Climate Solutions, Sembcorp Green Infra, and Jindal India Power have won Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) auction to procure 1.2 GW of round-the-clock (RTC) power from interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected renewable energy projects.

Hero and Hexa won 120 MW and 100 MW, respectively, at a tariff of ₹5.06 (~$0.0594)/kWh. Sembcorp Green and Jindal India won 50 MW and 150 MW, respectively, for ₹5.07 (~$0.0595)/kWh.

SECI auctioned 420 MW of the total tendered capacity. The tender was floated in October 2024.

The successful bidders will set up the transmission network to the interconnection or delivery point. They will also identify land, install, and own the projects, obtain connectivity and approvals, and interconnection with the ISTS network/STU or InSTS network for power supply to SECI.

They will also set up energy storage systems to ensure the supply of RTC power. The minimum voltage level for interconnection at the ISTS will be 220 kV.

The companies will ensure a minimum demand fulfilment ratio (DFR) of 80% annually, 75% monthly, and 90% during peak hours.

They will have to pay a penalty against shortfalls in monthly and annual DFR requirements, amounting to 1.5 times the cost of this shortfall in energy terms. In case of a shortfall during peak hour DFR requirements, the penalty will be 2.5 times the cost of this shortfall in energy terms, calculated at the power purchase agreement (PPA) tariff.

To optimize the projects’ operation, the successful bidders can supply power over the contracted capacity at any time block to any third party or power exchange. If the buying entity purchases such power, it will be purchased at the PPA tariff.

Power supply from the project will start 24 months from signing the PPA. The company can split the cumulative capacity into multiple projects within the above deadline.

The tender had specified that only type-certified wind turbine models listed in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy must be used in the projects. Only commercially established and operational technologies must be deployed to minimize technology risk.

In April, Multi Infrastructure & Engineering (MIEPL) won SECI’s auction to set up a cumulative 4.125 MW solar power project at IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal.

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