Madhya Gujarat Vij Company (MGVCL) has invited bids to install and commission 42.8 MW of grid-connected feeder level solar power projects and the associated power line under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

The projects will be developed under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model.

The last date to submit the bids online is September 1, 2022. Bids will be opened the following day.

Under Component C of the KUSUM program, the government aims to solarize 1.5 million grid-connected agriculture pumps of individual capacity up to 7.5 HP by 2022.

The project’s estimated cost is ₹35 million (~$440,384)/MW.

Bidders will have to submit ₹100,000 (~$1,258)/MW as an earnest money deposit. The successful bidder should furnish an amount equivalent to ₹500,000 (~$6,291)/MW within 15 days from the letter of award as a performance bank guarantee.

The project must be completed within nine months from signing the power purchase agreement (PPA).

The developer will get central financial assistance at 30% of the estimated installation cost of the solar power project, i.e., ₹10.5 million (~$132,115)/MW.

The feeder level solar power project is to be installed under the RESCO model on the solar generator’s land along with its associated 11 kV line to connect the project with the 66 kV/11 kV substation at the 11 kV bus and remote monitoring system of the solar power project.

Using domestically manufactured solar modules from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) will be mandatory.

All components to be used for installing solar power projects should conform to the applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) specifications and follow quality control guidelines issued by MNRE from time to time.

Bidders should have electrical contractor licenses in Gujarat.

They should have experience in the supply, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 1 MW, considering the capacity of individual solar projects of 10 kW or more during the last five years for any government or private organization in India.

The list of solar power projects with the average annual turnover requirements during the last three financial years is given below:

Bidders should have a positive net worth during each of the last three financial years.

Recently, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company invited bids to install and commission 54 MW of grid-connected solar power projects for agricultural feeders under Component C of the PM-KUSUM program, along with the 11 kV line and the remote monitoring system.

Earlier, Paschim Gujarat Vij Company had invited bids to design, supply, install and commission solar projects of an aggregate capacity of 1.125 MW for various agricultural feeders along with the associated 11 kV line and the remote monitoring system under the RESCO model.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, tenders for 75.4 MW of grid-connected agriculture pumps have been floated under Component C of the KUSUM program in Gujarat.