The Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) has retendered 70 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be developed at Amguri Solar Park in Sivasagar district of the state.

The tender was initially floated in January 2019, as reported previously by Mercom.

“The response from the developers was poor due to the upper tariff cap of ₹3.50 (0.0049)/kWh. We have now revised the ceiling to ₹4 (~$0.16)/kWh,” an APGCL official told Mercom.

The last date for the submission of techno-commercial bids is October 10, 2019. The date for the techno-commercial bid opening has been scheduled for October 4, 2019.

The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate basis for the procurement of solar power by the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. (APDCL) for 25 years. According to the APGCL, the earnest money deposit (EMD) applicable for the bidders is ₹600,000 (~$8,317).

Assam is one of the least developed states in the country when it comes to the expansion of renewable energy sources. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, the state currently has negligible solar capacity currently with nearly 100 MW under development.

However, the state has started its journey towards sustainability with recent tenders for rooftop installations as well. Recently, the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) has issued a tender to set up 8 MW of rooftop solar projects with the net metering facility. The rooftop solar projects will be developed under CAPEX model. All the projects will be set up for residential customers.

A few months ago, the state had issued a tender for 7 MW of grid-connected solar rooftop projects for social and institutional buildings.

Mercom recently reported that the state government of Assam aims to install 590 MW of solar energy projects which are to be developed across solar parks, rooftop, and off-grid segments by 2020.

Image credit: By Asurnipal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0