Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has issued a tender on 25th June 2025 for the selection of Solar Power Developers (SPDs) to set up 3,850 kW grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects. These projects will be installed under the RESCO mode through tariff-based competitive bidding, marked as RTSPV-Tranche-I. The projects will be located at various central educational and research institutions, including IIT Indore, IGRMS Bhopal, IGNOU New Delhi, IUAC New Delhi, NIT Puducherry, and IIM Shillong.

The bid follows a single-stage, two-envelope bidding process, and submissions must be made online through the ISN-ETS portal. Interested bidders must download the official tender documents from the portal to participate.

The projects are divided into two categories. Category A includes rooftop and ground-mounted systems, while Category B includes only rooftop systems. The estimated capacity for each site varies: IIT Indore (1000 kW, ground-mounted), IGRMS Bhopal (240 kW), IGNOU (700 kW), IUAC (150 kW), NIT Puducherry (760 kW), and IIM Shillong (1000 kW). The ceiling tariff ranges from ₹4.50 to ₹5.00 per kWh, depending on the project.

To participate, each bidder must pay a non-refundable bid processing fee of ₹6,000, including GST. Additionally, Earnest Money Deposits (EMD) must be submitted for each project. The EMD values are as follows: IIT Indore: ₹9,54,000, IGRMS Bhopal: ₹2,16,000, IGNOU: ₹6,30,000, IUAC: ₹1,35,000, NIT Puducherry: ₹6,84,000, IIM Shillong: ₹9,90,000

These EMDs can be provided via Bank Guarantee, Payment on Order Instrument, or Insurance Surety Bond. The Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) must also be submitted before signing the PPA. The PBG amounts are determined by the project type: ₹3,580/kW for IIT Indore, ₹3,375/kW for other Category A projects, and ₹3,715/kW for Category B projects.

Each project will have a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the respective client organizations. The Scheduled Commissioning Date (SCD) for Category A projects is nine months from the effective PPA date, and for Category B projects, it is twelve months. Delays beyond these timelines will attract penalties and a possible reduction of project capacity.

Successful SPDs will be responsible for the complete execution of the project, including design, engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance for the entire PPA period. They are also required to arrange for grid connectivity and net metering approvals.

PPAs must be signed within 60 days of the Letter of Award (LoA), and service charges are to be paid to SECI in two installments—50% after LoA issuance and the remaining before PPA signing.

This initiative supports India’s goal under the Panchamrit declaration made at COP26, to meet 50% of its energy requirements through renewables by 2030.