The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a landmark tender seeking bids for the development of 2000 MW ISTS-connected solar power projects coupled with 1000 MW/4000 MWh energy storage systems (ESS). This ambitious initiative, aims to boost the share of firm and dispatchable renewable energy in the national grid.
The projects will be awarded under a tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism (SECI-ISTS-XX), with successful developers signing a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. All solar power will need to be paired with energy storage at a minimum ratio of 0.5 MW/2 MWh per MW of solar capacity, using only solar energy as input for storage. Storage systems may be co-located or remotely installed through third-party arrangements.
Tender Timeline & Fee Structure
Last Date for Bid Submission: July 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM IST
Techno-Commercial Bid Opening: July 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM IST
Pre-Bid Meeting: June 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM IST, to be held virtually
EMD Submission Deadline: Along with bid submission, ₹14.24 lakh per MW
RFS Document Fee: ₹50,000
Processing Fee: ₹20,000 per MW of quoted capacity
Bidders are required to maintain a minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 19%, and must deliver at least 2 MWh per MW of contracted capacity during peak hours each day. Deviations from scheduled supply — including failure to meet minimum peak-hour discharges — will attract financial penalties.
The tender aligns with India’s broader goals under the Ministry of Power’s trajectory for energy storage obligations (ESOs) and reflects SECI’s strategic push toward storage-integrated renewable power infrastructure. All tender-related documents are available on http://www.seci.co.in and the ISN-ETS portal.
This marks a crucial step in advancing India’s renewable energy transition, enhancing grid reliability while integrating cutting-edge energy storage solutions.
