SECI Invites Bids for 1,200 MW of ISTS-Connected Wind Projects (Tranche-XXI)

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) inviting Wind Power Developers (WPDs) to set up 1,200 MW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected wind power projects anywhere in India. Published on 7 October 2026 under RfS No. SECI/C&P/IPP/12/0011/26-27 (ISN-ETS Tender Search Code: SECI-2026-TN000034), the tender, titled SECI-Tranche-XXI, continues SECI’s series of pan-India wind auctions.

Key Dates

Bidding Framework

The RfS follows the Ministry of Power’s Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding for procurement of power from grid-connected wind projects, notified on 26 July 2023 under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. Selection will be through a single-stage, two-envelope process: e-bidding followed by an e-Reverse Auction (e-RA).

Projects will be developed on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis. SECI will act as the Intermediary Procurer, signing 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with selected developers and selling the power to Buying Entities through back-to-back Power Sale Agreements (PSAs). The Buying Entities will be identified later, and no Central Financial Assistance is envisaged.

A bidder, together with its parent, affiliates and group companies, may submit only one bid, for a minimum of 50 MW and a maximum of 600 MW. Cumulative allocation to any group is capped at 600 MW. Developers with commissioned or under-construction wind capacity that is not yet tied up may also participate and will receive a correspondingly longer PPA period.

Scope of Work and Grid Connectivity

Land, installation and ownership, statutory approvals and grid connectivity are entirely in the developer’s scope. The WPD must also build the transmission network up to the delivery point and bear all related costs, including line construction, wheeling and scheduling charges, and losses. By default, the delivery point is an ISTS substation, with a minimum interconnection voltage of 220 kV; an intra-state (STU/InSTS) substation may be used only if both the developer and the Buying Entity agree.

Substations must be chosen from existing ones with available margin, those under augmentation, CTU’s updated plan, or CEA’s plan for integrating over 500 GW of RE capacity by 2030. The Buying Entity will obtain General Network Access (GNA) and bear transmission charges beyond the delivery point.

Selection is technology-agnostic, but turbines must be procured from manufacturers listed in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM) issued by MNRE. Projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan must comply with Supreme Court orders and MNRE guidelines on protecting Great Indian Bustard habitats.

Performance Requirements

Bidders must declare an annual Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) of at least 25%. It may be revised by up to ±10% at PPA signing, and revised upward once within the first three years of full operation. Annual supply must stay between 80% and 120% of the declared CUF over the 25-year term.

Bidders must also submit a tentative hourly generation profile for a representative day of each month. Additional turbines and repowering are permitted at the developer’s cost, but grid injection cannot exceed the contracted capacity.

Project Timelines

• Scheduled Commencement of Supply Date (SCSD): 24 months from the PPA’s Effective Date.
• Financial Closure: 6 months before SCSD, with 100% funding tie-up and turbine purchase orders.
• Delays: Supply may begin up to 6 months after SCSD with pro-rata encashment of the Performance Bank Guarantee; beyond that, contracted capacity is reduced.
• Part commissioning: First part of at least 50 MW for ISTS projects, then blocks of at least 10 MW.
• Early commissioning: Permitted, subject to connectivity and GNA.

SCSD extensions are available where delays in ISTS substation readiness or connectivity are attributable to the CTU or transmission licensee.

Financial Requirements

Micro and Small Enterprises with valid UDYAM registration are exempt from the document fee, processing fee and EMD, subject to conditions. Foreign companies may bid but must form an Indian SPV with at least 51% shareholding before PPA signing. Bidders from countries sharing a land border with India must be registered with the competent authority.

Continuity of SECI’s Wind Programme

Tranche-XXI follows Tranche-XIX, issued in October 2025, and Tranche-XX, issued in April 2026 and now listed on SECI’s results page at 2,000 MW. It was issued alongside SECI-FDRE-X, a 1,200 MW × 4-hour assured peak supply tender floated the same day, while SECI’s 800 MW/3,200 MWh standalone battery storage tender (SECI-ESS-IV) also remains open. Together, they reflect a procurement pipeline focused on both the volume of clean energy and when it is delivered.

Why It Matters

Wind power complements solar generation, which is limited to daylight hours, and supports a more balanced renewable supply. The 25% minimum CUF and hourly profile requirement signal SECI’s focus on supply quality, while strict connectivity and timeline provisions aim to ensure awarded capacity gets commissioned. The upcoming e-RA will show where wind tariffs currently stand.

Official References

1. SECI Tender Details – RfS for 1200 MW ISTS-Connected Wind Power Projects (SECI-Tranche-XXI)
2. RfS Document – SECI-Tranche-XXI (PDF)
3. Standard SECI PPA – Wind Tranche-XXI (PDF)
4. Standard SECI PSA – Wind Tranche-XXI (PDF)
5. Pre-bid Meeting Notification – SECI-Tranche-XXI (PDF)
6. SECI Live Tenders
7. SECI Tender Results
8. ISN-ETS Tender Portal