The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has invited expressions of interest to set up 40 MW of decentralized grid-connected ground/stilt-mounted solar power projects under component A of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program.

The projects will be developed on barren/uncultivable and agricultural land falling within a radius of five kilometers from substations notified by UHBVN.

They must have capacities varying from 500 kW to 2 MW and be connected to 33/11 kV, 66/11 kV, and 132/11 kV substations.

The last date to submit the bids is December 27, 2023. Bids will be opened on December 28.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹100,000 (~$1,199)/MW of the quoted capacity. For selected bidders, the EMD amount will be converted into a performance bank guarantee amount.

The selected developers must submit a detailed project report, financial closure documents, and grid feasibility clearance report to the UHBVN within six months of receiving the letter of award.

The projects must be commissioned within 12 months of receiving the letter of award.

The land required is 4 acres per MW. Agricultural land is permitted under the program, provided the solar modules are installed in a stilt fashion with adequate spacing between module rows to ensure farming activity is not affected.

The selected developer must sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Haryana Power Purchase Centre at a pre-fixed levelized tariff of ₹3.11 (~$0.0373)/kWh as notified by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission.

If the total capacity of eligible applications received for a particular substation exceeds the notified capacity, an e-reverse auction will be conducted, and capacities will be allocated based on the lowest tariff offered.

Farmers, groups of farmers, cooperatives, panchayats, farmer producer organizations, and water user associations with their own land or a land lease agreement can participate in the tender as solar power generators.

The tender considers ₹40 million (~$479,833) per MW as the solar project installation cost. Applicants must show proof of funds for at least 30% of the quoted capacity cost.

Companies submitting the bids are required to demonstrate or infuse the capital in the form of their own equity in line with the requirement.

They must have a net worth of not less than ₹10 million (~$119,958) per MW of the quoted capacity as of the last financial year.

The selected developer must maintain a capacity utilization factor of a minimum of 15% annually during the entire PPA period.

UHBVN has mandated the use of solar modules listed in the latest Approved List of Models and Manufacturers issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Haryana recently proposed the Solar Power Policy 2023, with an aim to install 6 GW of solar projects by 2030, comprising 3.2 GW of ground-mounted solar, 1.6 GW of rooftop solar, and the solarization of 1.2 GW of irrigation pumps.

In April 2023, HPPC, a joint forum of UHBVN and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, invited bids for supplying 500 MW of solar power from grid-connected solar projects in Haryana.

Subscribe to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker for timely updates on all tenders issued by various agencies in India.