SAEL Industries, Jindal India Renewable Energy, Sembcorp Green, JBM Renewables, Fastnote Biofuels (Hindustan Power), and Reliance NU Energies won SJVN’s auction to develop 1,200 MW interstate transmission system-connected solar power projects with 600 MW/2,400 MWh energy storage systems.

SAEL, Jindal, Sembcorp, and JBM quoted a tariff of ₹3.32 (~$0.0389)/kWh to win 150 MW, 300 MW, 150 MW, and 150 MW, respectively.

Fastnote Biofuels won 100 MW at a tariff of ₹3.33 (~$0.0390)/kWh.

Reliance NU Energies won 350 MW, out of a quoted capacity of 600 MW, at a tariff of ₹3.33 (~$0.0390)/kW under the bucket filling method.

The tender was floated in September last year.

Bidders were allowed to offer a minimum project capacity of 50 MW and a maximum of 600 MW in a single bid. The total capacity that was to be awarded was 1,200 MW.

Solar projects that were under construction, yet to be commissioned, or already commissioned but selling power on a short-term merchant basis were eligible for selection under the tender. However, these projects must not have been accepted under state or central programs and should not have been obligated to sell power to beneficiaries.

The deployment of solar technology remained technology agnostic in terms of project selection. Bidders can use crystalline silicon, thin-film, or concentrated photovoltaic technology, with or without trackers.

Bidders must use commercially established and operational technologies to minimize technology-related risks and ensure the project’s successful commissioning.

The project must be developed for interconnection with the ISTS under the current regulations issued by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). The minimum voltage level required for interconnection at the ISTS shall be 220 kV.

The developer must obtain ISTS connectivity, and bear all associated costs in line with the applicable regulations. The transmission of power up to the point of interconnection, where energy metering for accounting takes place, must be managed and financed entirely by the developer. If the developer needs to utilize the intra-state transmission system to deliver solar power to the ISTS point, it may do so under the rules and regulations of the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The developer may establish connectivity through a transmission line to the ISTS interconnection point.

Developers can connect their projects to the grid by selecting ISTS substations across India. While selecting a substation, they must conduct thorough due diligence and choose from one of the following categories:

• Existing substations with confirmed available capacity as indicated by the respective substation owner.
• Existing substations or those under construction where augmentation work is either ongoing or officially announced.
• Substations listed in the latest network plan published by the CTU on its website, subject to the availability of the required margin for connectivity approval.

Government agencies floated around 14.4 GW of solar tenders in Q1 2025, a 53.1% drop compared to 30.7 GW in Q1 2024, but a 5.4% increase from Q4 2024, according to Mercom India Research. The four implementing agencies, NTPC, NHPC, SECI, and SJVN, together issued tenders amounting to 77% of the 50 GW annual target for FY25. They were responsible for 41% of all solar tenders floated in Q1 2025.

In February this year, the Central Electricity Authority clarified all renewable energy implementing agencies and state utilities must incorporate a minimum two-hour co-located energy storage system equivalent to 10% of the installed solar capacity in all future solar tenders.

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