Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has invited bids for the installation of 26.75 MW decentralized ground-mounted, grid-connected solar power projects under Component A of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program.

The last date to submit bids is November 25, 2024. Bidders must pay an application processing fee of ₹5,000 (~$59.32) plus 18% GST.

They  must also furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹100,000 (~$1,186.3)/MW.

Bidders must furnish proof of availability of funds for at least 30% of the cost of capacity applied. The estimated cost is ₹40 million (~$474,348).

Bidders can submit bids to set up projects of 500 kW to 2 MW, which will be connected to the 33/11 kV, 66/11 kV, and 132 kV substations.

They must arrange land of 4 acres/MW for the solar projects, which should be installed within a 5 km radius of the substation.

The solar power generated by the projects will be purchased by the Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) at a levelized tariff of₹3.11(~$0.037)/kWh as notified by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission.

On behalf of DHBVN, HPPC will sign 25-year power purchase agreements with the successful applicants.

Farmers, groups of farmers, cooperatives, panchayats, farmer-producer organizations, and water user associations that own land or have land lease agreements are eligible to participate in the tender.

The projects may be developed by individual farmers utilizing their barren, uncultivable pasture or marshy land.

Agricultural land is also permitted under the program, provided the solar panels are installed on stilts, and adequate spacing between panel rows ensures that farming activity is not affected.

The DISCOM, in February, invited applications to set up 28.35 MW solar projects in rural Haryana.

In March, DHBVN invited bids to set up 6.5 MW of ground-mounted solar projects under Component C of the PM KUSUM program.