The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has invited bids to empanel solar developers for three years to set up grid-connected floating solar projects on identified water bodies and reservoirs.

The projects will be developed on a build, own, and operate model for 25 years.

The scope of work includes surveying, assessing the potential, and constructing grid-connected floating solar projects. The developers will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance and the possible evacuation of power and its transmission arrangements up to the nearest substation or pooling station identified by KSEB.

The last date to submit the bids is August 29, 2022. Bids will be opened on September 1.

Bidders must be established designers, manufacturers, developers, or system integrators of floating solar projects by manufacturing and integrating floating platforms and module mounting structures for preferably MW-scale projects anywhere in the world.

Bidders must have supplied ground-mounted solar or floating solar systems for a total capacity of 10 MW in the last five years. Out of the total capacity, at least 100 KW of floating solar systems should have been in operation for at least one month before the bid opening date or 10 MW ground-mounted and rooftop solar systems with demonstrated contracting of floating solar technology.

The applicant should have a total annual turnover of ₹500 million (~$6.29 million) for the last three financial years or a net worth of ₹100 million (~$1.26 million). For JV or consortium, each partner or combination of partners should meet the turnover criteria.

KSEB has stated that only commercially established and operational technologies should be used to minimize the technology risk and achieve the projects’ timely commissioning.

Last November, KSEB issued a request for qualification to set up 100 MW of grid-connected floating solar projects on a design, build, own, and operate model.

Earlier, KSEB had given in-principle approval to install 50 MW of floating solar power projects in the Kollam district under the Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks program of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, KSEBL has issued tenders for 1.8 GW of solar capacity to date.