Omnicore Weekly #211 - 13 June 2025

Dear Patrons & Readers,

Petition under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for the adoption of tariff for the 600 MW Inter-State Transmission System connected Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects (SECI ISTS IX) and selected through competitive bidding process as per the Guidelines dated 21.08.2023 of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited

Versus

Juniper Green Energy Private Limited, ACME Solar Holdings Limited, Sembcorp Green Infra Private Limited

Background:

The Petitioner, Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (‘SECI’), has filed the present Petition under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act') for the adoption of tariff for the 600 MW Wind Solar Hybrid Power Projects (TrancheIX) connected to the Inter-State Transmission System (‘ISTS’) and selected through the competitive bidding process as per the “Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for Procurement of Power from Grid Connected Wind Solar Hybrid Power Projects” (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Guidelines’) dated 21.8.2023 issued by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, as amended from time to time and interpreted and modified by the Central Government vide subsequent communications. The Petitioner has made the following prayers:

“(a) Adopt the tariff discovered in the tariff based competitive bidding process for 600 MW ISTS connected Wind - Solar Hybrid Power Projects based on e-Reverse Auction (e-RA);

(b) Approve Trading Margin of Rs.0.07/kWh to be paid by the Distribution Companies/Buying Entity(ies) as specified in the Guidelines;

(c) Pass any other or further order which this Commission may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.” Submissions of the Petitioner

2. The Petitioner, SECI has submitted that it issued the Request for Selection (‘RfS’) along with the draft Power Purchase Agreement (‘PPA’) and draft Power Supply Agreement (‘PSA’) for the selection of the 400 MW ISTS-connected Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects (Tranche- IX) as per the Guidelines and floated the same on the ISN Electronic Tender System (ETS) e-bidding portal on 28.6.2024. The Petitioner, vide Amendment No. 1 dated 23.7.2024 to the RfS, enhanced the capacity of the Projects to 600 MW. In response, four bids were received offering an aggregate capacity of 810 MW, and all were found to fully meet the techno-commercial criteria and qualified for the opening of the financial bid. As per the eligibility criteria mentioned in the RfS, all four bidders were shortlisted to participate in the e-reverse auction. The e-reverse auction was conducted on 1.10.2024 on the ISN ETS e-bidding portal, and pursuant thereto, three bidders offering an aggregate capacity of 600 MW were selected and issued Letters of Award on 15.10.2024. Further, the Petitioner submitted that pursuant to the Electricity (Amendment) Rules 2022 (Amendment Rules) notified by Ministry of Power on 29.12.2022, which inter-alia provide for implementation of uniform renewable energy tariff (URET), the Ministry of Power, Government of India on 25.10.2023, approved the procedure for implementation of URET through Grid India, as the implementing agency (IA) for standardizing the tariff across various categories of central pool such as solar, solar-wind hybrid, at which the Intermediary Procurer (IP) will sell power generated from renewable sources from such central pool to all the end procurers. The capacity from a central pool of solar-wind hybrid power projects would be sold based on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) approach, i.e., solar-wind hybrid projects whose letter of award has been placed first would be placed in their respective pools first, and also sold first by the Intermediary Procurer. In view of the above, the Petitioner has prayed for the adoption of a tariff for 600 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects as discovered through a competitive bidding process carried out by SECI. The Petitioner has further prayed to approve the Trading Margin of Rs. 0.07/kWh to be paid by the Distribution Companies/Buying Entity(ies) as specified in the Guidelines.

Highlights from the week of
6 June 2025 to 13 June 2025