India tenders 700 MW solar for commercial and industrial buyers

India's state-owned SJVN Green Energy has floated a tender for 700 MW of grid-connected solar capacity. The power will be sold to commercial and industrial (C&I) buyers, a segment that is increasingly turning to renewables to cut costs and meet sustainability goals.

The tender, issued on September 7, invites developers to set up projects anywhere in India. They must tie up with C&I consumers themselves, under a group captive or third-party sale model. Bids close on October 1.

Each developer can bid for a minimum of 10 MW and a maximum of 300 MW. The project must be commissioned within 18 months of signing the power purchase agreement.

SJVN will charge a tender fee of INR 29,500 (about $350) plus 18% GST. A performance bank guarantee of INR 400,000 per MW is required.

This is not SJVN's first foray into the C&I space. In March, the company tendered 200 MW for the same segment. That tender was oversubscribed, reflecting strong demand from businesses wanting to lock in cheaper, cleaner power.

C&I consumers pay some of the highest tariffs in India, often above INR 8 per kWh. Solar power, at INR 3-4 per kWh, offers a significant saving. That gap is driving a surge in corporate renewable procurement, even without state subsidies.

Developers are watching closely. The tender's success will hinge on the availability of transmission infrastructure and the financial health of the buyers. But the appetite is clearly there.

India's total solar capacity stood at 87 GW as of August 2026. The government wants 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Tenders like this one are a step toward that goal.

The deadline for bid submission is October 1, 2026. Technical bids will be opened the same day.