NTPC REL 900 MW Solar EPC Tender at Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh: Three 300 MW Packages

Key Takeaways

• Agency: NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL)
• Capacity: 900 MW (3 x 300 MW packages) grid-connected solar PV
• Location: Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
• Tender issued: April 2026
• Bid deadline: May 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM IST
• Technical bid opening: May 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM IST
• EMD: Rs 20 crore for up to 2 packages (600 MW); Rs 50 crore for all 3 packages
• EPC experience required: Minimum 40 MWp cumulative, including one 10 MWp+ project
• EPC scope: Full turnkey including 3-year O&M
• Bidding process: Single-stage two-envelope + reverse auction

What Is This Tender?

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) invited bids in April 2026 for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of 900 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. The project is structured as three separate 300 MW packages, each corresponding to a distinct section of the 900 MW plant.

Mandsaur is in northwestern Madhya Pradesh near the Rajasthan border — a region with strong solar irradiance and proximity to both MP's industrial corridor and Rajasthan's well-developed solar grid. At 900 MW, this is one of NTPC REL's largest solar EPC tenders outside of Rajasthan in 2026, and represents a significant investment in Madhya Pradesh's renewable energy capacity.

NTPC REL can award up to two packages (600 MW) to a single bidder under standard procurement rules, or all three packages to separate bidders — allowing flexibility in how the overall contract is structured.

Project Structure: Three 300 MW Packages

The 900 MW plant is divided into three blocks:

Structuring large solar projects into multiple EPC packages of 300 MW each is a common NTPC REL practice that:

• Allows multiple qualified contractors to compete for different packages
• Reduces single-contractor execution risk
• Enables parallel construction across different sections of the site
• Allows NTPC REL to benchmark costs across the three packages

However, NTPC REL also allows single bidders to bid for multiple packages — with the Rs 50 crore EMD requirement for all three packages (vs Rs 20 crore for up to two packages) acting as the financial filter.

EPC Scope of Work

The complete EPC scope for each 300 MW package covers:

• Design and engineering of the solar PV plant layout and electrical systems
• Manufacturing, supply, and transportation of solar PV modules and all balance-of-system equipment
• Unloading, storage, and installation at the Mandsaur site
• Testing and commissioning of the complete 300 MW system
• Solar PV module supply — modules must meet NTPC REL's technical specifications (likely including ALMM compliance)
• 3-year comprehensive operation and maintenance from commissioning date

Eligibility Criteria

The 40 MWp minimum cumulative experience threshold — and the requirement for at least one 10 MWp+ operational project — is calibrated for mid-to-large EPC companies. This is notably more accessible than NTPC REL's 550 MW Rajasthan tender, which required Rs 311.5 crore average annual turnover and was oriented toward the largest EPC players. The Mandsaur tender's experience-based eligibility opens participation to a broader pool of established mid-sized EPC companies.

Location: Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh

Mandsaur district in northwestern Madhya Pradesh offers several advantages for large-scale solar development:

Solar resource: Mandsaur receives approximately 5.2–5.5 kWh/m2/day of Global Horizontal Irradiance — good solar resource, lower than Rajasthan's best locations but above the national average and well-suited for utility-scale projects.

Industrial proximity: Mandsaur is part of MP's industrial belt connecting Neemuch, Mandsaur, and Ujjain — a region with significant chemical, agro-processing, and pharmaceutical industrial activity. The 900 MW plant will contribute clean power to MP's grid serving these industrial consumers.

Land: At utility scale (900 MW typically requires 2,500–3,000 acres), NTPC REL would have secured land allotment from the MP government for this project. Madhya Pradesh has been supportive of large-scale solar development on government and waste land.

Transmission connectivity: Mandsaur has existing grid infrastructure connecting to the MP TRANSCO network and the national ISTS grid, enabling large-scale power evacuation.

MP's Solar Ecosystem in 2026

Madhya Pradesh is an emerging solar state — historically less prominent than Rajasthan or Gujarat in solar development, but increasingly active in 2025–26:

• Maharashtra added 6,177 MW of large-scale solar in FY2026 — but MP's additions, while smaller, are accelerating
• NTPC REL's 900 MW Mandsaur project will be one of the largest single-site solar plants in MP when commissioned
• MP's solar policy offers competitive open-access arrangements for large industrial consumers
• The state has significant agro-industrial demand for captive and open-access solar

Bidding Process

NTPC REL employed its standard two-stage procurement process:

Stage 1: Single-stage, two-envelope system

• Envelope 1: Techno-commercial bid (technical qualifications, compliance with EPC specifications)
• Envelope 2: Price bid (held sealed until technical evaluation is complete)

Stage 2: Reverse auction

• Shortlisted technically qualified bidders participate in a live online reverse auction
• Final EPC contract prices are determined through competitive bidding in the reverse auction

The document download period ran from April 7 to April 17, 2026. A pre-bid meeting was held on April 21, 2026, and bid submission closed on May 8, 2026. NTPC REL evaluates and awards EPC contracts typically within 4–8 weeks of bid closing.

What This Means for EPC Companies and MP Industrial Solar Buyers

For EPC companies, the 900 MW Mandsaur project is one of the largest open EPC competitions in Madhya Pradesh in 2026. The 40 MWp minimum experience threshold — significantly lower than NTPC REL's other Rajasthan tenders — opens participation to a broader set of mid-sized EPC companies alongside the large players.

Companies that have executed solar projects in MP, Rajasthan, or Maharashtra and meet the 40 MWp + 10 MWp reference project criteria should evaluate whether they can competitively bid for one or two packages (Rs 20 crore EMD) without taking on the full Rs 50 crore commitment of a three-package bid.

For industrial solar buyers in Madhya Pradesh, this project signals NTPC REL's confidence in MP's renewable energy market and grid infrastructure. As NTPC REL commissions 900 MW in Mandsaur, it will:

• Improve MP's grid renewable share, potentially affecting RPO compliance requirements for large industrial consumers
• Strengthen the local EPC and supply chain ecosystem in MP
• Create precedents for future solar procurement in the state

MP industrial buyers exploring captive solar or open-access arrangements should review NTPC REL's track record and consider how the growing solar supply in the state may affect open-access charges and tariff structures over the medium term.

For more on industrial solar in Madhya Pradesh, see our guide on solar EPC for industrial projects in Madhya Pradesh.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the 900 MW project structured into three packages?

The 900 MW plant is divided into three separate 300 MW packages, each with its own EPC scope, bid evaluation, and contract award. A single EPC company can bid for one, two, or all three packages, with proportionally higher EMD requirements for more packages.

What is the EPC experience requirement to qualify?

Bidders must have designed, supplied, and commissioned solar PV grid-connected power plants of cumulative capacity of at least 40 MWp. At least one of these must be a single project of 10 MWp or more, in successful operation for at least 6 months.

Does NTPC REL specify which solar module technology to use?

The EPC scope includes solar PV module supply. NTPC REL typically requires modules from MNRE's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM List-I) with cells from ALMM List-II. Specific technology preferences (bifacial, TOPCon, trackers) would be detailed in the full bid document.

What is the project completion timeline?

NTPC REL did not specify a commissioning timeline in the public tender notice. Typically, 300 MW packages are commissioned within 12–18 months of EPC contract signing. Given the May 2026 bid deadline, commissioning of each package would likely be expected in late 2027.

What is Mandsaur's solar irradiance compared to Rajasthan?

Mandsaur receives approximately 5.2–5.5 kWh/m2/day, compared to Rajasthan's 5.5–6.2 kWh/m2/day in its best zones. The slightly lower irradiance is partially offset by lower land costs and better proximity to MP's industrial demand centers.

Sources

• NTPC REL Invites Bids For 900 MW Solar PV Project In Madhya Pradesh — SolarQuarter (April 8, 2026)
• NTPC REL Floats EPC Tender for 900 MW Solar Project in Madhya Pradesh — Mercom India
• NTPC REL Tenders EPC Package for 900 MW Solar PV Projects in Madhya Pradesh — Energetica India
• NTPC REL Floats EPC Tender For 550 MW Solar PV Project In Rajasthan — SolarQuarter