The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has tendered over 1 MW of off-grid solar projects for health centers across the state. The bid submission deadline is January 2, 2018.

The winning bidders will be tasked with developing off-grid solar projects at 110 Primary Health Centers and 110 Community Health Centers across Haryana. The tender calls for developing 220 projects in total, half of which will have a capacity of 5 kW each and the other half will have a capacity of 10 kW each.

According to the tender guidelines, HAREDA can enhance the present capacity by 1.25 times if needed. Up to three bidders will be selected to service the entire contract. The estimated cost is ₹214.5 million (~$.3.33 million).

Participating bidders must be either system integrators or registered manufacturers of at least one major solar component. The successful bidders will be responsible for opening at least one service center in Haryana.

A single bidder must bid for a minimum of 10 percent of the capacity tendered. The scope of work includes the supply, installation, and commissioning of the off-grid solar projects. Successful bidders will provide operation and maintenance services for five years. The projects must be completed within 120 days of the contract award.

When asked about the development, a HAREDA official said, “Off-grid power can help increase the functionality of healthcare centers in the state. To ensure better quality components, we have directed bidders to follow the standards set by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Bureau of Indian Standards.”

A solar PV system can provide three to four hours of backup electricity for a PHC, according to a recent report published by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water cited in a recent Mercom article. Scaling solar systems across Primary Health Centers and Community Health Centers is in India’s interest because they can help in meeting targets set by the National Solar Mission and the National Health Mission.