GUVNL Bids Invited for Hybrid Power Projects

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL) has requested bids to purchase power from 500 MW grid-connected hybrid renewable energy projects, with the option of increasing capacity by 500 MW via the greenshoe option. The deadline for proposal submissions is November 28, 2023. Bidding will begin on December 1, 2023.

Bidders must submit a tender fee of 25,000 ($300) + 18% GST, as well as a non-refundable processing fee of 1.5 million ($18,017) + 18% GST. Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of 928,000 (11,146) x the rated cumulative installed capacity of the solar component (MW) + 1.26 million ($15,182) x the rated cumulative installed capacity of the wind component (MW). Before signing the PPA, successful bidders must offer a performance bank guarantee.

The guarantee value is determined as follows: [2.32 million ($27,866) x rated installed capacity of the Solar component (MW) + 3.16 million ($37,956) x rated installed capacity of the Wind component (MW)]. The winning bidder may connect its power station and facilities to either the state transmission utility or the central transmission utility substation.

If the bidders choose to connect the power plant and facilities to an inter-state transmission system, the designated delivery point or interconnection point will be where electricity is transmitted into the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation's grid system. GUVNL will not be responsible for interstate transmission expenses or losses for energy purchased throughout the term of the PPA.

All expenses, including transmission and wheeling charges and losses between the project and the distribution point, will be borne entirely by the hybrid project developer, with no reimbursement from GUVNL.

GUVNL shall bear all expenses, including wheeling charges and losses associated with transmission and distribution beyond the delivery point up to the stipulated capacity. Only wind turbine types on the MNRE's Revised List of types and Manufacturers up to the project's operational date will be permitted. At the time of invoicing, solar modules should be from MNRE's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (List-I).

Only well-established and operational technologies can be used to reduce technological risks and ensure project completion on schedule. Bidders must have a net worth equal to or more than the sum calculated using the following calculation, which is based on the bidder's installed capacity breakdown: Minimum Net Worth = [(11.58 million ($139,090) x rated installed capacity of solar PV component) + (13.86 million ($166,476) x rated installed capacity of wind power component)]

The bidder must demonstrate this net worth figure as of the preceding fiscal year's end or at least seven days before the bid submission deadline. GUVNL solicited proposals from consultants last month to assist in the preparation of tender documents and the execution of the bidding process to secure long-term energy storage capacity from pumped storage projects.

GUVNL published a request for selection in July for the procurement of power from 500 MW of grid-connected wind power projects to be built anywhere in India (Phase VI), with an extra 500 MW greenshoe option.