The Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) has issued an expression of interest (EoI) to discover a tariff to implement 10 MW grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on government buildings at various locations in Maharashtra.

The rooftop solar power plants would be set up under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode and awarded to developers on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Maharashtra government has set a target of 2 GW from grid-connected rooftop solar projects under its Renewable Energy Policy 2020.

The rooftop solar projects will be deployed on buildings of government institutions, offices, public sector undertakings, and buildings owned by the government directly or by any government-owned societies, companies, corporations, health, and educational institutions.

The rooftop solar projects range from 10 kW to 500 kW. The scope of work includes design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning, along with comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) for 25 years.

The prospective bidders must quote the 25 years tariff in ‘₹/kWh’ format for the sale of solar power generated from the rooftop systems. The levelized tariff would be set for 25 years, including all taxes and duties.

The last date to submit the bids is July 18, 2022. Bids will be opened the next day.

Bidders must pay a bid processing fee of ₹11,800 (~$149.40), including 18% GST.

MEDA has set a ceiling tariff of ₹3.42 (~0.0433)/ kWh for rooftop solar systems ranging from 10 kW up to 100 kW and ₹3.41 (~0.0431)/ kWh for systems above 100 kW up to 500 kW. The discovered tariff will apply to projects commissioned within one year from the finalization of the tariff.

Bidders should have an average annual turnover of ₹40 million (~$506,451) or a total average turnover of ₹80 million (~$1.01 million) in the last three financial years.

Those bidding for rooftop solar systems ranging from 10 kW to 100 kW must have installed a solar system of aggregate capacity of 100 kW, including a single project of 50 kW in RESCO mode in the last three financial years.

Bidders applying for rooftop solar systems above 100 kW to 500 kW must have experience installing solar systems with an aggregate capacity of 500 kW, including a single project of 100 kW capacity in RESCO mode in the last three financial years.

The successful bidder must pay a security deposit of ₹300,000 (~$3,800.26) for rooftop systems with 10kW-100 kW capacity and ₹500,000 (~$6,333.28) for systems above 100 kW up to 500 kW.

MEDA said each rooftop unit could connect separately with the grid and may have separate meters. The developers must also install a solar energy generation meter along with the net meter/ net billing/ behind the meter, which would be the basis for energy generation recording, billing, and payment.

In January this year, MEDA invited bids from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to set up 1.128 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems at 564 primary and upper primary Zilla Parishad schools (2 kW each) in the Nagpur district of the state.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, MEDA has floated tenders for 50 MW of rooftop solar capacity to date.