India’s SECI expands Uttar Pradesh floating PV tender to 150 MW

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has increased to 150 MW the targeted capacity in a recent tender for grid-connected solar plants on a water reservoir in Uttar Pradesh.

The original Request for Selection (RfS) was launched on March 16, targeting 100 MW of floating photovoltaic (PV) projects. SECI said at the time that the capacity will be installed in two 50-MW portions and will be developed on the Rihand Dam, also known as the Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir, in the state’s Sonbhadra district.

According to a notice published on Tuesday, SECI will now seek bidders for up to 150 MW of projects at the same location. The total capacity will be split in three 50-MW blocks and will be installed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. Succesful bidders will be awarded 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).

SECI invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) in December 2017, seeking to gather information about the feasibility of procuring 10 GW of floating solar capacity. It then said that the capacity will be installed in phases in the next three years.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!