Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has issued an expression of interest (EoI) to empanel Installers to design and install 5 MW of grid-connected solar rooftop power projects under CAPEX (capital expenditure) model in the residential segment. This would include residential buildings, group housing societies, and residential welfare associations.

The deadline for the submission of bids is July 27, 2020. The pre-bid meeting is scheduled to be held on July 10, 2020, at the GEDA office in Panaji.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the projects on a turn-key basis. Operation and maintenance for five operational years will also be required for each of the projects. The work also involves the identification and survey of prospective beneficiaries and registration of the grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects with the distribution company (DISCOM).

According to the tender document, the total tender capacity will be divided into four categories. Under slab 1, the capacity specified is from 1 kW to 3 kW, and slab 2 will consist of capacities between 3 kW to 10 kW. Under slab 3, the capacities will be between 10 kW to 100 kW, and 100 kW to 500 kW of capacities will fall under slab 4.

For category, A bidders, the earnest money deposit (EMD) will be ₹500,000 (~$6,635.15)/MW. Under Category B, the bidders need to pay a sum of ₹300,000 (~$3,981.09)/MW as the EMD.

Category A bidders should have experience executing at least 250 kW of rooftop solar projects or should have a cumulative experience of executing 20% of the bidding capacity in the past three years.

Category A bidders must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹10 million (~$132,703)/MW of the allotted capacity over the last three years. Or, the bidder must have a minimum net worth of ₹5 million (~$66,351.5)/MW of the allotted capacity.

Category B bidders are those who are new entrepreneurs, and there is no technical and financial eligibility for them. However, they are eligible to bid for the 1-10 kW capacity category only.

GEDA states that the minimum capacity to bid will be 100 kW. As per the technical specifications, the successful bidders must ensure that the modules and cells used in the projects are made in India.

According to GEDA, if the projects are not commissioned within 12 months, then a penalty of 2% of the value of the security deposit will be deducted for every day of delay for the next 30 days.

As per the tender document, central finance assistance (CFA) of 40% will be provided for projects up to 3 kW, whereas, for projects between 3 kW-10 kW, a CFA of 40% would be applicable for the first 3 kW, and 20% for the rest. A CFA of 20% will be given for group housing societies and residential welfare associations for the installation of rooftop projects up to 500 kW. However, it will be limited to 10 kW per house.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in July 2019, had notified the new benchmark costs for grid-connected rooftop solar power projects for the financial year 2019-20. For projects with a capacity of above 1 kW and up to 10 kW, the benchmark cost has been set at ₹54 (~$ 0.79)/W. Similarly, for projects over 10 kW and up to 100 kW, the cost has been set at ₹48 (~$ 0.70)/W. Lastly, for projects over 100 kW and up to 500 kW, a benchmark cost of ₹45 (~$0.66)/W would be applicable.

Meanwhile, recently, Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited also invited bids for the empanelment of bidders to install approximately 1 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the residential sector across various locations in Bihar.

 

Image credit: AleSpa / CC BY-SA