SECI Seeks Bulk Power Buyers for Long-Term Renewable Energy Procurement

SECI’s National Demand Aggregation Initiative

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has formally invited Expressions of Interest (EOI), under Reference: SECI/C&P/EOI/17/0002/26-27, to implement a large-scale demand aggregation model for renewable energy (RE) procurement. By consolidating the power requirements of bulk consumers into unified procurement tranches, SECI aims to optimize pricing and streamline the transition to clean energy for large-scale entities.

The initiative targets a wide range of off-takers, including Commercial and Industrial (C&I) entities, Data Centers, Airports, Ports, Metro Rail, and Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). Participants can choose between flexible long-term contract tenures of 10, 15, or 25 years. The final deadline for submission of responses is August 17, 2026.

Demand Aggregation Framework and Market Assessment

The procurement process is initiated through an “Identification of Need” phase. SECI’s Contracts and Procurement (C&P) department processes indents—internal requisitions—based on formal demand requests received from external entities. This structured aggregation allows SECI to act as an “Intermediary Procurer,” leveraging economies of scale to benefit diverse consumer segments.

The aggregation framework specifically targets the following entity types:

• Commercial and Industrial (C&I) consumers
• Data Centers and IT Parks
• Airports and Sea Ports
• Metro Rail Corporations and Transportation Hubs
• Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs)
• Large-scale Institutions (including NGOs, Charitable Trusts, and Educational Institutions)

To maintain technical viability and grid compliance, SECI has established minimum capacity thresholds: 50 MW for projects connected to the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and 10 MW for those connected to the State Transmission Utility (STU). As an aggregator, SECI applies a standard trading margin of 7 paise/kWh (0.077 euro-cents/kWh).

Technical Scope: Diversified RE Technologies

The EOI encompasses a broad spectrum of RE technologies designed to match various load requirements and decarbonization goals. The scope includes:

• Solar PV: Ground-mounted and Rooftop (CAPEX and RESCO modes).
• Wind Power: Onshore and Offshore installations.
• Wind-Solar Hybrid: Integrated systems for improved capacity utilization.
• Round-the-Clock (RTC) Supply: RE integrated with storage for continuous availability.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Standalone or integrated storage solutions.
• Green Ammonia and Hydrogen: Production and supply components.

Firm and Dispatchable RE (FDRE)

A significant component of this offering is the Firm and Dispatchable RE (FDRE) model, which utilizes a “Demand Following” supply mechanism. In this model, the RE Power Developer (RPD) must match a demand profile provided by the buying entity for a representative day for each month, which must be met on all days of that respective month.

• Demand Fulfillment Ratio (DFR): RPDs must achieve a minimum monthly DFR of 75%-80%.
• Performance Penalty: Shortfalls in performance are subject to a penalty calculated at 1.5 times the PPA tariff, ensuring high reliability for industrial consumers.

Execution, Commercial Models, and Facilitation

Projects will primarily be executed on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis, though SECI also offers Project Management Consultant (PMC) services. The framework supports various procurement structures, including Group-Captive and Third-Party Open Access.

From a market entry perspective, SECI has adopted a low-friction entry strategy for this EOI stage: no application fee, Earned Money Deposit (EMD), or Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) is required to participate. This reduces the initial financial burden on prospective off-takers while allowing SECI to gauge genuine market appetite.

SECI provides extensive facilitation to mitigate project risks, including:

• Infrastructure Support: Identifying and securing land, particularly within designated RE Parks.
• Grid Coordination: Managing connectivity with the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) and STU.
• Regulatory Alignment: Ensuring compliance with Central Electricity Authority (CEA) grid safety regulations and CERC/SERC tariff adoption.
• Credit Strength: Off-takers benefit from SECI’s “AAA” credit rating by ICRA, which provides a robust payment security mechanism in its role as a Category-I Power Trading Licensee.

Procurement Process and Timeline

The selection of developers follows a tariff-based competitive bidding process utilizing a “bucket-filling mechanism.” In this system, SECI aggregates valid bids and selects them in ascending order of the quoted tariff until the cumulative capacity required by the aggregated demand is fully met.

Milestone	Date / Detail
EOI Publication Date	[As per EOI Directive]
Pre-EOI Meeting	[As per EOI Directive]
Response Submission Deadline	August 17, 2026
Bidding Parameter	Tariff or VGF (with pre-determined tariff)
Tentative Power Delivery	12-24 months following PPA execution

The procurement workflow includes the drafting of tender documents, evaluation by a QR (Qualifying Requirement) Committee, and a pre-bid meeting for stakeholder clarifications. Responses must be submitted via the online forms or offline formats specified in the EOI directive.

SECI and India’s RE Targets

This initiative is a critical lever for achieving India’s “Panchamrit” goals as outlined at COP 26, which include installing 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and meeting 50% of energy requirements through renewable sources. Notably, India has already demonstrated significant momentum by achieving its initial COP 21 commitment—40% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuels—in November 2021, nine years ahead of the 2030 schedule.

SECI, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), remains the keystone of this sector. As of October 31, 2024, the corporation has:

• Awarded a total RE capacity exceeding 71 GW.
• Commissioned more than 23.16 GW of capacity.
• Successfully facilitated approximately every sixth solar plant commissioned in the country.

As of September 30, 2024, India maintains its global leadership in clean energy, ranking 4th in Wind Power capacity and 5th in Solar Power capacity. This demand aggregation drive is positioned to further accelerate these rankings by providing bulk consumers with stable, long-term access to cost-competitive green power.

The official links for the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) Expression of Interest (EOI) for bulk renewable energy procurement (Reference No: SECI/C&P/EOI/17/0002/26-27) are provided below:

• Official SECI Tender Details Page: https://www.seci.co.in/tender-details/YmRz
• Direct Link to the EOI Document (PDF): https://www.seci.co.in/uploads/tenders/EOI-Bulk_RE_Power_Consumers.pdf

Interested parties can use these links to review the full technical scope, eligibility requirements, and the necessary annexures for submission. Under this EOI, responses can be submitted through the dedicated online Google Form (https://forms.gle/RXjZiLurYofVyk959) or via offline hard copy to SECI’s Corporate Office in New Delhi.