The new EU rules will require member states to issue tenders for the procurement of solar plants above 1MW, following a transitional phase underway this year.
SolarPower Europe’s ‘tendering task force’ has developed new guidelines on best practice that it says are easy to implement while ensuring policy objectives are reached cost-effectively.
“We believe that particular attention should be given to ensuring high-realisation rates of solar projects,” says Jochen Hauff, head of business development, energy industry & policy at German developer BayWa-re and leader of the tendering task force.
“Getting low prices as an outcome of an auction is only one criteria to consider a tender successful. Pre-qualification criteria and a systematic approach on penalties should also be part of the standard practice.”
Tenders are a focal point at a European level with the European Commission expected to present its revised Renewable Energy Directive by the end of this year – including issues around the potential convergence of tenders across borders, as has already been seen between Germany and Denmark.
“We consider that a progressive convergence of the design parameters of national tenders should take place first before we think about opening tenders cross-border,” said SolarPower Europe policy director Alexandre Roesch.
The guidelines suggest minimum design features for each important phase of a tender – before, during and after the bids are submitted. They will be distributed to all member states to support the use of best practice in the design of tenders.
