The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) has invited an expression of interest (EoI) for setting up decentralized grid-connected solar power projects with an aggregate capacity of 28 MW under Component-A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program.

The scope of work includes setting up decentralized grid-connected ground-mounted solar power projects of 500 kW to 2 MW capacities to be connected to respective 33/11 kV, 66/11 kV, and 132/11 kV substations in rural areas.

Solar projects with a total capacity of 23 MW will be set up in UHBVNL’s operating area and 5 MW in the solar city in Panchkula. The land requirement for setting up the solar project is four acres per MW.

The last day to submit the bids is April 21, 2022. The bids will be opened on the same date.

The bid is open to farmers, groups of farmers, panchayats, co-operatives, farmer producer organizations, and water user associations of the UHBVNL. Individual farmers can develop solar projects utilizing their barren, uncultivable pasture or marshy land. Agricultural land is also permitted under the program, provided that solar projects are installed in a stilt fashion.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹100,000 (~$1,324)/MW of the applied capacity. Bidders must also pay a non-refundable bid processing fee of ₹5,000 (~$66). Successful bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee of ₹500,000 (~$6,618)/MW for the capacity awarded within 30 days from the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA).

The cells and modules used in the project must be sourced only from the models and manufacturers included in the “Approved List of Models and Manufacturers” as published and updated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The selected solar power generator must execute the power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Haryana Power Purchase Centre within two months from the date of issue of LoA at ₹3.11 (~$0.04)/kWh for 25 years. The solar power generator will be free to operate the plant after the expiry of the PPA if other conditions such as land lease, and permits, are met.

Interested farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, panchayats, or farmer producer organizations should have a land or a lease agreement to be eligible for the bid. If the farmer or farmer bodies opt to set up the solar project through the developer, they will be entitled to lease the land per the agreed terms and conditions.

Solar power generators must maintain a Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of at least 15% annually during the entire period of the PPA. The selected bidder must commission the solar project within 12 months from the date of issuance of the LoA.

The bidders must show the details of proportionate funds for at least 30% of the cost of the capacity applied, considering ₹40 million (~$529,504)/MW to be the cost for installing the solar power project. In the case of a developer, the developer’s net worth for the financial year ended on March 31, 2021, should not be less than ₹10 million (~$132,380)/MW of the capacity applied.

In August last year, UHBVNL had invited expression of interest for empanelment of agencies to set up grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems of capacities ranging from 1 kW to 500 kW in ten separate locations falling under the jurisdiction of UHBVNL.

As per Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, UHBVNL has tendered 600 MW solar projects in Haryana.