The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has extended the bid submission deadline for the tender to set up 1,200 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the western region of India. The new bid-submission deadline is January 3, 2019.

The technical bids will be opened on January 4, 2019. The minimum bid capacity is 50 MW and the maximum a single bidder can bid for is 600 MW. There is no upper tariff ceiling for this tender.

The grid-connected solar PV projects will be developed on build own operate (BOO) basis. The NTPC has stated that the projects will be developed near NTPC switchyards. The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected ISTS-connected solar PV projects.

NTPC had tendered the capacity in November 2018, with bid-submission deadline of December 19, 2018.

When contacted, an NTPC official said, “NTPC was approached to provide some more time to prepare bids and it has obliged. We are aiming at high levels of participation from the project developers.”

Recently, NTPC also issued a tender for enlisting solar PV module manufacturers and suppliers. The enlisted manufacturers or suppliers will supply modules for NTPC’s self-owned solar PV projects.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, NTPC has 874 MW of commissioned solar projects in the country. In the recent auction for 550 MW of solar projects by the  Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), NTPC quoted the lowest tariff of ₹3.02 (~$0.0431)/kWh to develop 85 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects.

In September 2018, NTPC had invited bids for solar module package for the development of Anta solar project located at Baran district in Rajasthan.

Image credit: Goldi Green