NTPC REL Issues EPC Tender for 600 MW Solar Project in Dhule, Maharashtra

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), a subsidiary of NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), has invited online bids for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) package of a 600 MW grid-connected solar PV project. The project, divided into two blocks of 300 MW each, is located in Dhule, Maharashtra. The procurement is being conducted via a Single Stage Two Envelope bidding process—comprising a Techno-Commercial Bid and a Price Bid—followed by a Reverse Auction.

Technical Project Specifications

The project requires the following technical parameters for the Dhule site:

• Total Capacity: 600 MW (comprising two blocks of 300 MW each).
• Grid Connectivity: Grid-connected solar PV.
• Bidding Basis: Domestic Competitive Bidding.
• System Requirements: Tracker-based Module Mounting Structures (MMS) and a SCADA system for remote monitoring and control.
• Power Evacuation: 33kV level at the Owner’s pooling substation.

Comprehensive EPC Scope of Work

The contractor’s responsibilities under the NRE-CS-5820-004(EPC)-9 package include:

• Design and Supply:
  • Design, engineering, manufacturing, and supply of Solar PV modules.
  • Supply of mandatory spares.
• Site Infrastructure:
  • Site grading, vegetation clearing, topographical surveys, and geotechnical investigations.
  • Construction of internal roads, pathways, drainage systems, and security cabins.
• Installation and Commissioning:
  • Design and construction of foundations for tracker-based MMS.
  • Erection of tracker-based MMS and interconnection of PV modules.
  • Construction of Pre-Engineered HT switchgear rooms (required if string inverters are used) or Inverter rooms (required if central inverters are used).
• Electrical and Grid Compliance:
  • Supply and installation of all electrical works, including transformers, panels, and protection systems.
  • Laying and termination of HT cables from the block boundary to the 33kV Owner’s Main Pooling switchgear.
  • Installation of dynamic reactive power compensation equipment and harmonic filters for grid compliance as per 2022 CEA regulations.
• Operation and Maintenance:
  • Installation of a SCADA system and Weather Monitoring Station including cloud cover monitoring.
  • Three years of comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M), including consumables and spare parts.

Qualifying Requirements and Bidding Timeline

The bidding schedule for the tender is outlined below:

Financial and Technical Requirements:

• Bid Security: Bidders quoting for the full 600 MW capacity (Block 1 + Block 2) must submit a Bid Security of INR 20 Crore.
• Financial Criteria: The average annual turnover must be at least INR 338 Crore for the 600 MW capacity during the preceding three financial years.
• Technical Experience: Bidders must have commissioned a cumulative solar PV capacity of at least 40 MWp, including one plant of at least 10 MWp.
• Operation Reference: The 10 MWp reference plant must have been in successful operation for at least six months prior to the bid opening. For bidders using non-RE industrial projects as a reference, the required period of successful operation is one year.
• TENDER PORTAL: https://ntpctender.ntpc.co.in/

Context and Background

The issuance of this tender (NRE-CS-5820-004(EPC)-9) represents a shift in project execution and corporate alignment. A previous 2022 tender (NRE-CS-5781-004-9) for a 600 MW package was issued on an “Anywhere in India” basis and required the bidder to identify land and arrange ISTS connectivity.

In the 2026 tender, the scope has transitioned to a specific site in Dhule where NTPC provides the pooling substation. This change indicates that NTPC has secured the necessary evacuation infrastructure, effectively removing the connectivity and land identification risk for the EPC contractor. Additionally, while the 2022 tender listed NTPC REL as a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, the 2026 documentation reflects the corporate restructuring that placed the subsidiary under NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL).