The Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) issued a notice inviting tender to set up 1,415 kW of rooftop solar systems at 11 of its premises spread across 26 locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Eastern Coalfields is a coal producer and operates coal mines in Jharkhand and West Bengal. It is one of the fully owned subsidiaries of Coal India Limited.

The scope of work under this tender would cover the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, storage, civil works, testing, commissioning, and ensuring net metering of the solar systems. The work would also include the operations and maintenance of the project for five years.

The last date for submitting bids is November 4, 2020. The estimated cost of the project floated by Coal India Limited’s subsidiary is ₹36.79 million (~$502,253).

Bidders must make an earnest money deposit of ₹459,900 (~$6,277) to participate in the bid. However, micro and small enterprises would be exempt from the payment of this deposit.

The bidder must have prior experience in the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected solar projects of at least 450 kWp in the last seven years. In the case of joint ventures, all partners must collectively meet 100% of the technical eligibility conditions.

The bidder should possess the working capital at least three months before the date of opening of the tender. The working capital has bee pegged at 20% of the estimated cost of the capacity put to tender. They should have a positive net worth in each of the last three financial years.

The solar modules used in the project should be made in India. Purchase preference would be given to Class I local supplier, although Class II local suppliers are eligible to bid. Successful bidders must complete the project in 180 days of being awarded the capacity.

Both West Bengal and Jharkhand have been slow in their pace of solar adoption. According to Mercom India’s Solar Project Tracker, Jharkhand currently has merely 20 MW of rooftop solar projects in operation. On the other hand, West Bengal has 47 MW of rooftop solar, as of August 2020.

Mercom has tracked over 21 MW of rooftop solar tenders from Jharkhand and 78 MW announced of West Bengal.

In November 2019, Coal India Limited issued an Expression of Interest to set up a 100 MW solar pilot project in Chhattisgarh for captive consumption to help meet its solar target set by the government.

Image credit: Cleantech Solar