The Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) for a 20 MW solar power project at the state’s Namrup Thermal Power Station.

The scope of work includes the design, construction, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar project. The tender also includes the associated transmission system along with the operation and maintenance of the project for five years.

The last date for the submission of bids is December 2, 2019.

The bidders need to deposit a sum of ₹200 million (~$2.8 million) as the earnest money deposit (EMD) to participate in the tender.

According to APGCL, the bidder should have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned at least 15 MW of solar projects in India during the last five years. Out of the 15 MW, at least one should be a 5 MW grid-connected project.

Regarding the financial eligibility, the successful bidder should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹45 million (~$6.4 million) in the preceding three financial years.

Further, the internal resource generation capability of the bidder for the financial year that ended on March 31, 2019, should be less than ₹125 million (~$1.8 million), which is ₹5 million (~$70,500)/MW of the quoted capacity.

The solar photovoltaic modules used should have an efficiency of more than 15.5 % for multicrystalline, and 17% for monocrystalline silicon-based modules.

The project should be completed within 180 days from the issue of letter of allotment.

Recently, the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) issued a request for proposal (RfS) for 940 kW of off-grid rooftop solar projects at various rural primary healthcare centers (PHC) across the state.

The state government of Assam has a target to install 590 MW of solar energy projects through solar parks, rooftop, and off-grid projects by 2020. However, Assam is one of the least developed states in the country when it comes to renewable energy sources. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, the state currently has a negligible solar capacity with only 100 MW capacity under development.

In September 2019, Mercom had reported that Assam issued a draft policy announcing its renewable purchase obligation (RPO) from 2019 to 2022.  The RPO for FY 2020, FY 2021, and FY 2022 will be 17.5%, 19%, and 21%, respectively.

Image credit: Axium Solar