Eleven companies have won Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) Tranche XX auction to set up 2,000 MW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar projects, along with 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh energy storage systems.

The winners are Welspun Renewable Energy, MB Power (Madhya Pradesh), Shivalaya Construction, Oswal Cables, Purvah Green Power, Banyan Insolation (Datta Infra), LC Infra Projects, Stockwell Solar Services, SAEL Industries, GH2 Solar, and Navayuga Green Energy.

Shivalaya Construction, Purvah Green Power, Welspun Renewable Energy, MB Power (Madhya Pradesh), Banyan Insolation, Stockwell Solar Services, LC Infra Projects, and Oswal Cables quoted a tariff of ₹2.86 (~$0.0326)/kWh to win 600 MW, 300 MW, 200 MW, 150 MW, 100 MW, 80 MW, 50 MW, and 50 MW, respectively.

SAEL Industries and GH2 Solar won 300 MW and 50 MW, each at a tariff of ₹2.87 (~$0.0327)/kWh.

Navayuga quoted ₹2.87 (~$0.0327)/kWh and won 120 MW out of the quoted capacity of 300 MW under the bucket filing method.

The tender was floated in June this year.

Selected bidders must set up a transmission network up to the interconnection point for the project at 220 kV or above. They must identify the land, install the project, ensure its ownership, and obtain connectivity, approvals, and interconnection with the ISTS network.

Successful bidders must install energy storage systems with a minimum capacity of 0.5 MW/2 MWh for every 1 MW of installed capacity. The storage component may either be owned by the developer or tied up separately with a third party.

They must ensure that the system’s minimum capacity utilization factor ranges between 19% and 30%.

SECI will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the selected bidders for 25 years.

The scheduled commencement of the supply from the full project capacity will be 24 months from the effective date of the PPA.

The solar cells and modules used must be from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.

In December last year, NTPC Renewable Energy, Sembcorp Green Infra, Solarcraft Power India 8 (Blupine Energy), Hero Solar Energy, and Reliance Power won SECI’s Tranche XVII auction to develop 2,000 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects integrated with 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh energy storage systems.