The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to set up a 10 MW grid-connected solar project integrated with a 10 MW/20 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Odisha with viability gap funding (VGF).

Bids must be submitted by March 23, 2026. Bids will be opened on March 27.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹14.2 million (~$157,106) and a tender document fee of ₹50,000 (~$551).

The successful bidder must furnish a performance bank guarantee of ₹35.6 million (~$392,766).

The ceiling tariff under the tender is capped at ₹2.70 (~$0.029)/kWh.

The project will have a VGF of ₹10 million (~$110,250)/MW.

Selected bidders must pay a success charge of ₹100,000 (~$1,103)/MW, plus applicable taxes, to SECI.

The scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar project along with the BESS and associated transmission infrastructure up to the interconnection or delivery point.

The selected developer will also be responsible for obtaining connectivity approvals, land acquisition in clear possession with a minimum requirement of 1.5 hectares per MW, and operation and maintenance of the project for the 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) duration.

The developers must ensure a guaranteed peak power supply of 2,000 kWh per MW of rated capacity during peak hours, for two hours daily between 6 PM and 9 AM. The minimum declared capacity utilization factor is set at 17%.

Bidders must have a minimum net worth of ₹142.5 million (~$1.57 million), and an annual turnover of ₹40.2 million (~$443,602), or profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes of ₹8.04 million (~$88,718), or an in-principle line of credit of ₹10.05 million (~$110,901).

The projects must only use modules and cells included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I and List-II.

The project must be commissioned within 13 months from the effective date of the PPA. Delays of up to three months will result in encashment of the performance bank guarantee, while further delays will attract tariff reductions of ₹0.50 (~$0.005)/kWh/day, and termination may occur if delays exceed 24 months.

Earlier this year, SECI invited bids to install 5,665 kW rooftop solar projects under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model on 14 government buildings (Tranche-VIII).

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