The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) has invited bids for setting up a 5 MW grid-connected floating solar power project at the Santhaldih Thermal Power Station in Purulia.

The project is expected to cost about ₹348.4 million ($5.3 million). Bidders must pay an earnest money deposit of ₹7 million (~$96,713). The last date for the submission of bids is April 12, 2021.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacture, procurement, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project on Raw Water Pond No. 1 at the power station.

Selected bidders must provide five years of comprehensive operations and maintenance services for the project. The time for completion of the project is nine months.

To be eligible to participate in the competitive bidding process, applicants must have had experience executing at least one 5 MW rooftop, ground-mounted, or floating solar project with a similar scope of MW or two separate ones of 2 MW each in the last seven years. They must also have operation and maintenance experience for projects of the same capacities.

Bidders must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹110 million (~$1.5 million) in the last three financial years. Their net worth must be not less than their paid-up share capital.

WBPDCL noted that the net minimum guaranteed generation of solar energy must be 1.52 million units/MW annually, which would be reduced by 1% per annum after the first year.

Recently, the WBPDCL reissued a tender to develop 10 MW of grid-connected floating solar projects on ponds at the Sagardighi Thermal Power Project, Murshidabad, West Bengal.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, West Bengal has floated tenders for 516 MW of solar power projects as of January 2021, of which 15 MW is for floating solar projects.