The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids from renewable energy developers to supply 1,000 MW of excess power (FDRE-VIII) from projects with existing medium-term power purchase agreements (PPA).

Bids must be submitted by January 30, 2026. Bids will be opened on February 4.

The cost of the bidding documents is ₹50,000 (~$556), and the bid processing fee is ₹20,000 (~$222)/MW.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹954,000 (~$10,609)/MW.

Selected bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee of ₹2.38 million (~$26,469)/MW.

Developers must set up renewable energy power projects connected to the intrastate or interstate transmission system, along with an energy storage system, and also build the transmission network up to the interconnection or delivery point, at their own cost. The minimum voltage level for interconnection to the interstate transmission system must be 220 kV.

The aim is to supply renewable energy under the existing power purchase agreements and to supply any excess renewable energy to SECI.

Developers are also responsible for identifying land, installing and owning the projects, and obtaining all required connectivity, approvals, and interconnection with the relevant transmission network for supplying excess power.

The energy storage system is mandatory and must be charged only using renewable energy. If it is charged from any other source, it will not be treated as renewable energy power. The project selection is not tied to any specific technology.

The energy storage system may be owned by the developer or arranged separately through a third party.

Developers must supply excess renewable energy from the project only during solar generation hours. They must supply at least 1.5 MWh per day for every 1 MW of contracted capacity.

They must ensure that all energy delivered under the 12-year PPA is entirely renewable.

In the event of any supply shortfall, developers must pay a penalty equal to 1.5 times the PPA tariff for the shortfall. Such shortfall shall be permissible up to 25% below the energy requirement during solar generation hours every month. A penalty will be levied on the average monthly shortfall exceeding 25%.

After commencement of supply, this penalty will apply in any contract year.

The minimum capacity available is 50 MW, while the maximum is 500 MW.

The scheduled commencement date for supplying excess power from the full project capacity will be 18 months from the effective PPA date.

Bidders must have a net worth of at least ₹9.54 million (~$106,100)/MW on the last date of the previous financial year.

The minimum annual turnover of the bidders must be ₹1.66 million (~$18,460)/MW during the previous financial year.

In October, SECI issued a tender to select developers for the assured peak supply of 4,800 MWh of firm and dispatchable renewable energy from interstate transmission-connected projects with co-located energy storage systems (Tranche-VII).

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