GUVNL 250 MW Wind Phase XI Auction: Winners at Rs 3.51/kWh

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) has announced the winners of its 250 MW grid-connected wind power projects Phase XI auction, with tariffs settling at Rs 3.51/kWh for the majority of awarded capacity. The tender, floated in May 2026, drew participation from established renewable energy developers, with NLC India Renewables, Juniper Green Energy, and Powerica each securing capacity at the lowest discovered tariff.

TL;DR

GUVNL's Phase XI wind auction for 250 MW has been awarded to four developers. NLC India Renewables (NIRL) won 100 MW, Juniper Green Energy won 50 MW, and Powerica won 50 MW — all at Rs 3.51/kWh. Cu-Built Renewable Energy secured the final 50 MW at Rs 3.52/kWh. All projects carry 25-year PPAs with GUVNL, with developers free to site projects anywhere in India at their own cost and risk. Only MNRE ALMM-listed, type-certified wind turbine models are permitted. Separately in July 2026, GUVNL also signed hydro PPAs with SJVN for 658 MW of Himachal Pradesh hydro capacity.

Auction Results: Who Won What and at What Tariff

The Phase XI wind auction saw a tight tariff spread, with three of four winners matching at Rs 3.51/kWh and the fourth at just one paisa higher.

All four developers will sign 25-year Power Purchase Agreements with GUVNL, locking in the discovered tariff for the full contract duration.

Understanding the Phase XI Tender Scope

GUVNL floated the Phase XI tender in May 2026 for 250 MW of grid-connected wind power projects. The scope requires developers to set up wind power projects — including the necessary transmission network up to the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) or State Transmission Utility (STU) interconnection point — on a build-own-operate basis.

Critically, bidders select their own project sites anywhere in India, bearing the cost and risk of site selection, land acquisition, grid connectivity, and all development activities. This pan-India site flexibility allows developers to choose locations with the best wind resources, optimizing their capacity utilization factors and project economics.

A key technical requirement is that only type-certified wind turbine models listed in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for wind are permitted. This ensures that all deployed turbines meet established quality and performance standards, protecting the long-term reliability of GUVNL's procurement.

Tariff Analysis: Rs 3.51/kWh in Context

The Rs 3.51/kWh tariff discovered in this auction is a meaningful benchmark for India's wind power market. For C&I buyers evaluating solar-wind hybrid versus solar-only procurement strategies, this tariff provides a current reference point for standalone wind pricing.

Several factors contextualize this tariff:

• Competitive discovery: The narrow one-paisa spread between the top three winners and Cu-Built indicates a competitive auction with well-matched developer bids.
• Pan-India siting: The ability to site projects at the best wind resource locations nationally supports lower tariffs, as developers can optimize generation.
• 25-year PPA duration: The long-term contract provides revenue certainty, enabling developers to price aggressively.
• ALMM compliance: The quality assurance from type-certified turbines reduces operational risk, supporting bankable project finance.

For industrial buyers, the Rs 3.51/kWh wind tariff is directly comparable to recent solar tariffs, helping inform decisions about whether to procure solar, wind, or hybrid capacity through open-access mechanisms. Buyers who prefer zero-capex models can also explore the RESCO / OPEX solar model as an alternative to direct capex procurement, and some developers offer similar RESCO structures for wind projects as well. For those with land constraints, solar carport versus ground-mount comparisons are also relevant when planning hybrid sites where wind turbines occupy ground area and solar panels can be elevated over parking.

GUVNL's Parallel Hydro PPA with SJVN

In addition to the wind auction results, July 2026 saw GUVNL sign separate Power Purchase Agreements with SJVN for green power from three hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh:

These hydro PPAs add 658 MW of clean, dispatchable generation to GUVNL's portfolio, complementing the intermittent wind and solar capacity procured through auctions. The combination of wind (250 MW Phase XI), solar (through prior GUVNL auctions), and hydro (658 MW from SJVN) reflects Gujarat's diversified renewable energy procurement strategy.

This diversification matters for open-access buyers. A procurement mix that includes solar (peak daytime), wind (often complementary to solar generation profiles), and hydro (dispatchable, flexible) creates a more stable renewable energy supply. Buyers evaluating solar open-access across states should note that Gujarat's diverse RE portfolio enhances the state's attractiveness for renewable power procurement.

What This Means for C&I Power Buyers

The GUVNL Phase XI wind auction and the concurrent hydro PPAs carry several implications for commercial and industrial electricity consumers:

1. Wind tariff benchmarking: The Rs 3.51/kWh tariff gives C&I buyers a current price reference for standalone wind procurement. When comparing wind to solar or solar-wind hybrid options, this is the latest public-domain data point.

2. Hybrid procurement rationale: Wind and solar generation are often complementary — wind tends to peak in evening and monsoon months when solar generation is lower. Buyers exploring hybrid models can use GUVNL's mixed procurement as a strategic template.

3. Open-access viability: Gujarat's expanding renewable portfolio strengthens the case for open-access solar and wind procurement by industrial buyers in the state. The broader the renewable generation base, the more reliable open-access supply becomes.

4. Hydro as a firming resource: The 658 MW SJVN hydro PPA adds dispatchable clean energy to the mix. For buyers seeking round-the-clock renewable supply, hydro can firm up intermittent wind and solar, reducing dependence on grid power during low-renewable-generation periods.

5. PPA structure reference: The 25-year PPA term — consistent across both wind and hydro procurements — is a standard long-tenor contract structure that C&I buyers can replicate in their own solar PPA agreements or group captive arrangements.

6. Developer landscape signals: The winners — NIRL (a public-sector renewable developer), Juniper Green Energy (a fast-growing IPP), Powerica (a wind-focused developer), and Cu-Built — represent the diverse developer ecosystem competing for GUVNL's wind tenders, signaling healthy competition and capacity depth.

5 Definitive Statements About This Auction

1. The Rs 3.51/kWh tariff discovered for 200 MW of the 250 MW awarded capacity represents one of the most competitive wind power tariffs in GUVNL's recent auction history, with three developers matching at this level.

2. NLC India Renewables emerged as the largest winner with 100 MW at Rs 3.51/kWh, reinforcing the public sector's growing direct participation in competitive renewable energy auctions.

3. GUVNL's concurrent signing of 658 MW of hydro PPAs with SJVN — spanning Dhaulasidh, Luhri Stage-I, and Sunni Dam — demonstrates Gujarat's commitment to a diversified renewable procurement strategy across wind, solar, and hydro.

4. The pan-India siting freedom combined with the MNRE ALMM (Wind) turbine requirement ensures that developers optimize generation while adhering to verified equipment quality standards.

5. The one-paisa tariff spread across all four winners signals a maturing, highly competitive wind auction market where developers' cost structures and financing conditions are closely aligned.

Key Takeaways

• GUVNL announced winners for its 250 MW wind power Phase XI auction, with the tender originally floated in May 2026.
• NLC India Renewables won 100 MW, Juniper Green Energy won 50 MW, and Powerica won 50 MW — all at Rs 3.51/kWh. Cu-Built Renewable Energy won 50 MW at Rs 3.52/kWh.
• All four projects carry 25-year PPAs with GUVNL, with developers selecting sites anywhere in India at their own cost and risk.
• Only MNRE ALMM-listed, type-certified wind turbine models are permitted in the projects.
• Separately in July 2026, GUVNL signed hydro PPAs with SJVN for 658 MW across three Himachal Pradesh projects: Dhaulasidh (66 MW), Luhri Stage-I (210 MW), and Sunni Dam (382 MW).
• The Rs 3.51/kWh wind tariff is a current benchmark for C&I buyers comparing wind, solar, and hybrid procurement options.
• Gujarat's diversified RE procurement — wind, solar, and hydro — strengthens the state's position as a leading market for open-access renewable power.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GUVNL 250 MW wind Phase XI auction?

The GUVNL Phase XI auction is a competitive procurement of 250 MW of grid-connected wind power projects by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited. The tender was floated in May 2026, and winners were announced with tariffs of Rs 3.51-3.52/kWh for 25-year PPAs.

Who won the GUVNL Phase XI wind auction and at what tariffs?

NLC India Renewables won 100 MW at Rs 3.51/kWh, Juniper Green Energy won 50 MW at Rs 3.51/kWh, Powerica won 50 MW at Rs 3.51/kWh, and Cu-Built Renewable Energy won 50 MW at Rs 3.52/kWh. The total awarded capacity is 250 MW.

What is the PPA duration for these wind projects?

All four winning developers will sign 25-year Power Purchase Agreements with GUVNL, ensuring long-term revenue certainty at the discovered tariff for the entire contract period.

Where can developers site their wind projects under this tender?

Developers are free to select project sites anywhere in India at their own cost and risk. This pan-India siting flexibility allows developers to choose locations with optimal wind resources, maximizing generation and supporting competitive tariffs.

What turbine requirements does GUVNL specify for this auction?

Only type-certified wind turbine models listed in the MNRE Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for wind are permitted. This requirement ensures that all deployed turbines meet established quality and performance standards.

What hydro PPAs did GUVNL sign in July 2026?

GUVNL signed PPAs with SJVN for green power from three hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh: Dhaulasidh (66 MW), Luhri Stage-I (210 MW), and Sunni Dam (382 MW), totaling 658 MW of additional clean energy capacity.

How does the Rs 3.51/kWh wind tariff compare to solar tariffs for C&I buyers?

The Rs 3.51/kWh wind tariff provides a current benchmark that C&I buyers can compare against solar tariffs when deciding between standalone solar, standalone wind, or solar-wind hybrid procurement. Wind and solar are often complementary, making hybrid solutions attractive for round-the-clock renewable supply.

Why is Gujarat's mixed renewable procurement strategy significant for open-access buyers?

GUVNL's diversified procurement across wind (Phase XI), solar (prior auctions), and hydro (658 MW SJVN PPAs) creates a broad renewable energy base. This diversification improves supply reliability for open-access buyers, who benefit from a mix of intermittent and dispatchable clean energy sources within the state.

Sources

• Renewable Watch — GUVNL Wind Phase XI Auction Results (July 13, 2026) by Sarthak Takyar

This article reflects publicly reported auction results and PPA announcements as of July 13, 2026. For official procurement details, refer to GUVNL's tender documents and announcements. For a broader perspective on India's renewable energy trajectory, see our India solar industry outlook for 2025-26. For more on how EPC capabilities underpin these projects, visit our guide on choosing a solar EPC company in India.