The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has invited bids for 30 MW of rooftop solar systems on government buildings in the state.

The capital investment for the project will be nearly ₹1.1 billion (~$14.45 million). The systems will be installed under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model. The contract will also include operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 25 years.

The generated power will be used for captive consumption under the net metering regulations notified by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).

The last date for the submission of bids is July 20, 2020, and the opening of technical bids will also take place on July 20, 2020. The project should be completed within three months from the date of placement of the work order.

As per the document, Haryana-based micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and Haryana-based startups or first-generation entrepreneurs will be exempted from paying the earnest money deposit (EMD). Similarly, central or Haryana public sector enterprises will not have to pay the EMD. For others, the EMD amount has been fixed as ₹200,000 (~$2,628). The bidder should submit bids for at least 3 MW. The bidders can submit their bids in three categories: 50 kW-100 kW, 101 kW-500 kW, and 501 kW-1,000 kW.

The bidder should have installed solar power projects of at least 40% of the quoted capacity during the last three years. Regarding the financial criteria, the bidder should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹20 million (~$262,808)/MW in the last three financial years. The bidder should have a positive net worth for the last three years ending March 31 of the previous financial year.

Further, the document states that the solar modules should be domestically manufactured, and the efficiency of the solar modules should not be less than 16%, and the fill factor should be more than 70%. The module should consist of at least four busbar technology. The total solar array capacity should not be less than the allocated capacity and should comprise of solar crystalline modules of 300W (with 72 cells) and above.

Recently, HERC issued new regulations for single-point supply through rooftop solar and open access projects for residential and commercial consumer categories in the state. The consumers include employers’ colonies, group housing societies and residential or residential cum commercial, commercial complexes of developers and industrial estates, IT parks, and special economic zone.

In November last year, HERC issued an updated version of its regulations for rooftop solar grid-interactive systems based on net metering in response to a petition filed by HAREDA.

Previously it was reported that Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVN), a Haryana power distribution company, had issued an expression of interest to empanel agencies to install grid-connected rooftop solar systems between 1kW-500 kW in residential premises.