The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has introduced an amendment in the Request for Selection (RfS) for the 2,000 MW grid-connected solar tender it had floated under the second phase of CPSU Program.

Through the amendment, the agency has now included micro and mini grid-connected projects in the ambit of this tender.

The amended RfS has included a new clause stating that there would also be a waiver of ISTS-charges and losses provided to the solar developers. Through this amendment, SECI has also permitted setting up of solar PV power projects for supplying auxiliary power for a power generation project.

Moreover, the scheduled commissioning date for the full capacity has also been extended from 18 months to two years, which will be welcomed by developers.

In the amended version of the RfS, the maximum period allowed has been increased to 30 months from obtaining the letter of award. Earlier, the maximum period allowed was 24 months.

Earlier, for a delay in commissioning beyond the scheduled date, the viability gap funding (VGF) sanctioned for the project was slated to be reduced by 0.15% per day of the delay and proportionate to the capacity delayed. Now, this penalty will be levied only after 30 months.

Moreover, the previous RfS stipulated that the second tranche of the VGF would only be disbursed to the developer after the commissioning full capacity. In the amended version, after every stage of successful commissioning, the developer will be entitled to the VGF.

The amended version of the RfS adds that each developer should chart out a solar power mapping and provide specific information about the developer, intermediaries, and end consumers and submit them to SECI before for the disbursal of the second tranche of the VGF.

Last month, SECI had extended the bid extension deadline of this tender, as was reported by Mercom. The tender was initially floated in March 2019.

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Soumik is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, Soumik was a correspondent for UNI, New Delhi covering the Northeast region for seven years. He has also worked as an Asia Correspondent for Washington DC-based Hundred Reporters. He has contributed as a freelancer to several national and international digital publications with a focus on data-based investigative stories on environmental corruption, hydro power projects, energy transition and the circular economy. Soumik is an Economics graduate from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University.