The Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (HIMURJA) has invited bids for the installation of solar projects at 312 middle schools located in 11 districts of Himachal Pradesh. The project installations will be executed under the state’s “Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan” program.

The deadline for the submission of the bids is August 23, 2019.

According to HIMURJA, the tentative cost of the project is ₹110 million (~$1.5 million) and needs to be completed within seven months.

To participate, the interested bidders should deposit a sum of ₹2.2 million (~$31,531) as the earnest money deposit (EMD). The annual turnover of the participating company should be at least ₹50 million (~$7.16 million) for each of the preceding fiscal years.

The scope of work includes the supply, installation, and commissioning of solar PV projects ranging from 1 to 3 kW at 312 middle schools in the state. It also includes the verification of site feasibility, design, engineering, manufacture, shop testing, inspection, packing and forwarding, transportation up to project site, loading and unloading, storage, erection, preliminary testing at the site, installation, commissioning, and performance testing of the projects.

During the warranty period of five years, the successful bidder will have to carry out preventive, routine, and breakdown maintenance for all the solar projects free of cost.

The eligibility and qualification of the prospective bidders state that the bidder must have installed at least 200 kW of off-grid SPV power projects.

According to the specifications of the project, all the parts of the system should be prescribed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) or the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The solar PV module array should consist of high-efficiency solar modules, utilizing crystalline silicon solar cells. Individual solar module rating should not be less than 200 W.

Many schools covered under this tender are remotely located where the grid performance is poor, and some of the schools have no electricity connection at all. “Providing solar power projects of adequate capacity will at least meet the need of electricity for lighting and operation of electronic devices in these schools throughout the year,” states the tender.

Of late, numerous schools and educational institutes have adopted solar technology in a bid to become more sustainable and meet their energy requirements economically. Previously, Mercom published an article which analyzed how solar – not black coal – is beginning to power classrooms, dormitories and canteens of multitudes of educational institutions across the country.

For instance, recently, Jhansi Smart City tendered 60.5 kW of hybrid rooftop solar PV projects to be set up at various school buildings.

The Rajasthan State Road Development Corporation (RSRDCC) also issued a tender for the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 240 kW solar project. The project is to be developed at Sainik School in the Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan.

Image credit: Suntech Power

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.