NHPC Issues EPC Tender for 7.8 MW Wind Power Project in Palakkad, Kerala

NHPC Limited, a Government of India Navratna Enterprise, has officially announced a Domestic Competitive Bidding process for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of a wind power project in Agali, Palakkad District, Kerala. This move, initiated under Tender Notice ID 2026_NHPC_898112_1, marks NHPC’s strategic entry into Kerala’s “Wind Class-3” corridor. The project represents a significant step in the corporation’s diversification of its renewable energy portfolio, utilizing the high-potential wind passes of the Western Ghats.

Project Specifications and Technical Scope

The contract covers the complete lifecycle of the facility’s establishment, transitioning from construction to long-term operational management. The technical parameters are defined as follows:

• Capacity: 7.8 MW (+/- 5%).
• Location: Agali, District Palakkad, Kerala.
• Contract Type: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC).
• O&M Component: Comprehensive Operation & Maintenance for a duration of five years from the date of commissioning.
• Execution Timeline: 24 months for the EPC phase, including final commissioning of the project.

Critical Tender Timeline and Financial Requirements

Prospective bidders must comply with the administrative milestones and financial security requirements outlined in the tender document. Notably, there is a discrepancy in the bid document cost between the numerical and word-based figures provided in the source notice.

Bidder Qualification Criteria

The tender establishes stringent technical and financial thresholds to ensure the selection of capable sole contractors.

Technical Criteria

Bidders must meet the requirements of one of the following categories:

1. WTG Manufacturers: Must be a manufacturer of Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) with a minimum 750kW capacity, featuring a valid type certificate and inclusion in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM) issued by MNRE/NIWE.
2. EPC Experience: Must have experience as an EPC contractor for wind projects involving WTGs of at least 750kW.

Furthermore, bidders must have successfully completed “similar work” (Supply or EPC contracts) within the last seven years, calculated from the month previous to the date of publication of the NIT. The benchmarks are:

• One completed work of at least 6.3 MW; OR
• Two completed works of at least 3.9 MW each; OR
• Three completed works of at least 3.2 MW each.

Note: For experience involving private organizations, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificates must be submitted alongside the experience certificate.

Financial Criteria

• Average Annual Turnover: Minimum of Rs. 34.20 Crores over the preceding two financial years.
• Net Worth: Must be positive in at least two of the last three financial years, including the immediately preceding year. “Net Worth” is defined as the aggregate value of paid-up share capital and reserves (excluding reserves created out of revaluation of assets, write-back of depreciation, and amalgamation) minus accumulated losses and deferred expenditure.
• Working Capital: Minimum of Rs. 5.20 Crores per the latest audited balance sheet.

Context: Regional Wind Resources and Site Potential

The selection of Agali in Palakkad as the project site is rooted in the district’s “Wind Class-3” status. Situated within the Western Ghats’ Palghat Pass system, the region experiences substantial wind velocity influenced by boundary layer effects. In this environment, ground resistance and terrain roughness cause wind speeds to vary significantly based on height above the ground.

Regional data indicates that existing wind turbines in Palakkad—many of which are older units with hub heights of 30m to 60m—have frequently under-performed due to industrial obstructions and friction within the lower boundary layer. To mitigate these effects and ensure efficient energy harvesting, current technical planning for Agali necessitates the use of hub-height data ranging from 80m to 150m. This height increase allows turbines to access more consistent wind spectra, maximizing the capacity factor in a region traditionally categorized as under-utilized.

Submission and Compliance Guidelines

Bidding will be conducted via the Central Public Procurement (CPP) Portal on a “Single Stage-Two Part Bidding Basis.” Part-I consists of the Techno-Commercial Bid, followed by Part-II, the Price Bid.

NHPC will conduct an e-Reverse Auction (e-RA) following the technical evaluation to determine the final awardee. Bidders are required to maintain active registrations for PAN, GST, and EPF. All bids must be quoted in Indian Rupees (INR) only, and technical documentation must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified translation.