SECI's bulk-buyer EOI names data centers, and its 1,000 MW round-the-clock tender is the firm-power track

SECI opened a formal channel on July 17, 2026 for large electricity users to line up long-term renewable supply. Its Expression of Interest for bulk power off-takers names “Data Centres and IT Parks” as a target buyer class and lists a submission deadline of August 17, 2026. The document frames procurement across REIA, captive, group-captive and joint-venture structures. No tariff, awarded capacity, or signed offtake volume is attached to the EOI — it is demand discovery, not a contracted award.

• SECI opens bulk-buyer EOI naming data centres – Tender SECI000264 (ref SECI/C&P/EOI/17/0002/26-27), published July 17, 2026, invites large loads to secure long-term renewable supply via REIA, captive and group-captive models; submissions close August 17, 2026.
• SECI’s separate FDRE-RTC-V round-the-clock tender (SECI000240, ref SECI/C&P/IPP/13/0020/25-26) seeks 1,000 MW of firm and dispatchable renewable energy from ISTS-connected projects — the firm/dispatchable product profile most relevant to always-on data-centre loads.
• The FDRE-RTC-V tender was published March 10, 2026 with a March 19, 2026 pre-bid meeting; its online bid submission closed July 20, 2026 and bids opened July 23, 2026.
• The FDRE-RTC-V tender page links the RfS document, standard PPA and standard PSA governing the 1,000 MW procurement.
• Captive and group-captive structures are the routes through which hyperscalers and colocation operators can access SECI-facilitated supply — a headline auction tariff understates the delivered cost once open-access charges, balancing and scheduling obligations are added.