India's NTPC seeks bids for over 1 GW of solar-plus-storage in Cuba

Indian state-run energy company NTPC Ltd (BOM:532555) has launched a request for qualification (RfQ) to select developers for a gigawatt-scale, multi-site solar-plus-storage project in the Republic of Cuba.

NTPC has been appointed as the project management consultant for the installation of 1,150 MW of solar power generating capacity at 175 locations across 15 provinces in Cuba along with 150 MW/150 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) at three locations. These sites have been identified by the local government for the purpose of developing renewable energies in order to displace the large amounts of imported fossil fuels used for conventional power generation.

State-owned Union Electrica de Cuba (UNE) has already taken possession of the land for each individual project, both solar and BESS.

The Indian company plans to tender the solar capacity in three “buckets” of around 300 MW each. The interested parties will be competing to offer the lowest tariff for at least 50 MW of capacity from any or all three blocks.

“In view of the importance of this project, the Government of Cuba has extended Sovereign Guarantee for developers/sellers who would be developing at least 250 MW capacity out of the total 1,150 MW project. This Sovereign Guarantee shall cover payment realisation for sale of electricity throughout the life of the project,” the RfQ document says.

The deadline for bid submission is September 28, 2022.

Earlier this year, it was announced that NTPC was looking for bids for 900 MW of solar projects in Cuba.

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