NTPC Initiates Bidding Process for Wind Project in Karnataka

NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL), a fully-owned subsidiary of NTPC, has announced a call for bids regarding the Balance of System (BOS) package for a significant 1,080 MW Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected wind energy project located in Karnataka. The deadline for bid submissions is set for December 4, 2023, with bid opening scheduled for the same day. The project's scope encompasses multiple aspects, including design, engineering, micro-siting, manufacturing, supply, erection, testing, commissioning, and validation of guaranteed performance parameters. This includes the installation of substations, a central monitoring and control station, wind monitoring masts, and external Extra High Voltage (EHV) transmission lines extending to the Gadag-II ISTS substation.

It's important to note that the BOS development package does not cover the provision of wind turbine generators (WTG), civil construction, or the installation of unit substations and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The project is required to be designed to accommodate WTGs of various sizes, starting from 2.7 MW and extending to larger WTG models available in the market, which must be compliant with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s latest Revised List of Models & Manufacturers.

The selected bidder will also be accountable for a comprehensive three-year operation and maintenance commitment within the Wind BOS development package. This includes overseeing the pooling substation, internal and external transmission systems, and the supply of all necessary spare parts and consumables. Furthermore, they are responsible for conducting repairs or replacements of any faulty equipment and covering expenses related to reactive power penalties and any other charges imposed by the respective state government.

Prospective bidders are required to submit ₹22,500 (~$270) as the cost of the bidding document. They should possess a proven track record in executing wind projects with a cumulative capacity of 40 MW or more, including at least one project with a capacity of 10 MW or higher. They must also demonstrate their capability to secure land for the wind energy project and conduct micro-siting for wind turbines.

To qualify, bidders must have prior experience as developers of grid-connected wind power projects with a cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or more, including at least one project with a capacity of 10 MW or higher at a single location, which should have been operational for at least six months before the bid opening date. Alternatively, bidders should demonstrate their experience in executing industrial projects in sectors such as power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, or any other process industry within the last ten years. This industrial project should be either a single project and have been in successful operation for at least one year or six months before the bid opening date.

Furthermore, bidders must have experience in executing at least one electrical substation with a voltage level of 33 kV or higher, including equipment like 33 kV or above voltage level circuit breakers and power transformers. This experience can be as either a developer or an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, and the substation project should have been in successful operation for at least one year or six months before the date of the techno-commercial bid opening. The minimum required duration for electrical substations is at least one year for projects outside the renewable energy sector (e.g., solar/wind) and at least six months for electrical substations in renewable energy projects.

Lastly, bidders must meet specific financial criteria, with a minimum average annual turnover depending on the quoted capacity of the projects, ranging from 50 MW to over 300 MW. This reflects NTPC REL's rigorous selection process to ensure that qualified entities undertake this substantial wind energy endeavor. Previously, NTPC Renewable Energy had issued an invitation for bids related to the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 250 MW/500 MWh grid-connected standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) near the Fatehgarh-III ISTS substation in Rajasthan.

News by Rahul Yelligetti