Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited (MUNPL), a joint venture of NTPC and the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (UPRVUNL), has invited bids to hire consultants to prepare a detailed project report for setting up a 55 MW solar power project and propose a suitable business model.

The last date for submitting bids is August 27, 2021. Bids will be opened on August 28.

The company is already operating the Meja Super Thermal Power Station of 1,320 MW capacity in the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh.

MUNPL has identified 337 acres of land plus reservoir surface area for solar project installation to set up the project. Initially, the company wants the installation of the project on 143.72 acres of land available in the ash dyke area and 145 acres of the reservoir surface area.

The scope of work includes exploring and identifying suitable technology to set up a solar power project on 143.72 acres of land available in the ash dyke area and 145 acres of the reservoir surface area. It also includes comparing various financing models available in the market for setting up the solar project and suggesting the best suitable model for the project.

The consultant should also provide the roadmap, efforts, and the cost involved against the suggested timelines. In addition, the consultant should submit financial models under various modes, including the developer mode.

The consultant should also detail the various statutory clearances, internal approvals, and external approvals involved in setting up the project.

The interim report must be submitted within 45 days, the complete detailed project report within 75 days, and the tender documents within 90 days.

In November last year, the Bundelkhand Saur Urja, a joint venture of NHPC and the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Development Agency, issued a tender for consultants to create a detailed project report for a 1.2 GW solar park in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh.

The Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI) has also floated a global tender for consultancy services for a 100 MW solar project along with a 40 MW/120 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. The DC capacity is set as 160 MWp.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, about 20 tenders have been announced so far, inviting consultants for 6.4 GW of solar projects.