The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has reissued a request for selection (RfS) to procure a cumulative capacity of 100 MW of power from grid-connected solar projects in four regions of the state through a tariff-based competitive bidding process.

The tender was initially issued in January 2018.

These projects are set to be developed under four tenders of 25 MW each.  Here is the breakdown:

Region 1: Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska, Udalguri, and Darrang.

Region 2: Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, and Guwahati.

Region 3: Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbari Anglong, NC Hills, Golaghat, and Jorhat.

Region 4: Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj.

All these projects are to be developed on a build, own, and operate basis. The last date for the submission of bids is February 21, 2020, while the date for techno-commercial bid opening date has been scheduled for February 24, 2020.

Interested bidders need to pay ₹672,000 (~$9,419)/ MW as the earnest money deposit (EMD) and performance security of ₹1.7 million (~$23,548).

According to the tender document, the ceiling tariff for the project has been revised to ₹4 (~$0.056)/ kWh from the earlier ₹4.48 (~$0.07)/kWh.

An interested bidder should have a net worth of ₹6.72 million (~$94,193) as on the last day of the preceding financial year (FY).

The net worth of each of these projects will not be less than ₹168 million (~$2.35 million) as on the last day of the preceding financial year.

The successful bidder will be responsible for design, financing, acquisition or leasing of land, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, erection, testing, synchronizing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining the projects.

As per the APDCL, each solar power project will be a minimum of 5 MW. Interested bidders can apply for a minimum of 5 MW and a maximum capacity of 25 MW.

The bidder can participate either as a single bidder or a consortium. The successful bidder will be allowed to achieve part commissioning of the project by commissioning a threshold capacity of 15 MW and can further commission the remaining project with a minimum of 5 MW until full commissioning.

In case of commissioning delay beyond three months, the tariff discovered after a reverse auction will be reduced at the rate of  ₹0.15 (~$0.002)/ kWh/day of delay for the remaining capacity up to a maximum period of 30 days.

Also, change in the location of land for setting up the project from one place to another location is not permitted after a year from the signing of the purchase power agreement (PPA) or at financial closure.

As far as the technical specifications are concerned, only commercially established and operational technologies can be used to minimize the technology-related risks.

Recently, Mercom reported that the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission notified that for captive power projects which were commissioned before April 1, 2016, the renewable purchase obligation would be 1% for solar and 3% of non-solar.

Previously, it was reported that the state floated a tender to develop 30 MW of solar PV power projects. The projects of 10 MW each are to be set up in the lower Assam zone, central Assam zone, and in the region of Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.

Image credit: EDF Renewables

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.