The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), has issued a tender for the annual maintenance contract for two rooftop solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 200 kW (2×100 kW) located at LLR Hall and Mathematics department of the campus.

The last date for the submission of the bids is February 5, 2020. The approximate cost of the work is ₹1,27,862 (~$1,795.89). The interested bidders need to pay ₹2,557 (~$35.91) as the earnest money deposit (EMD).

The tender adds that each project must be cleaned once a week for 52 weeks and during emergencies. The date of work will start from the seventh day of the issue of the work order.  The bids will remain valid for 120 days from the date of submission.

According to the tender document, the prospective bidders should have done at least one similar work of at least 80% of the estimated cost or two of 60% value or three works of at least 40% of the cost. The projects should have been for any government, semi-government, public sector undertakings.

As part of the contract, the successful bidder must use equipment that is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and in line with the government’s quality control regulations.

In September 2019, Mercom reported that IIT Kharagpur had issued a tender to install grid-connected solar energy projects totaling 1,100kW at its campus. Before this, the college had installed a 1,200kW solar project which was developed on the rooftop of the university.

IITs have been leading the trend of educational institutions in the country going solar.

For instance, in August 2019, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, floated an expression of interest (EoI) for three smart grid field pilots combining renewable sources (solar and biomass) and storage (Lithium-ion and flow batteries). This is part of a project called U.S.-India Collaborative for Smart Distribution System with Storage.

Earlier, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, floated a 15 kW tender for a solar hybrid system with back-up provision. The system is to be installed at Bilaput, in the sub-district of Koraput in Odisha.

In December 2018, IIT Indore joined the league of green campuses in the country by installing a 422 kW solar rooftop power system on its premises. The project was commissioned by BVG India Ltd, an integrated services company.

In May 2018, IIT KGP issued an EoI inviting bids from project developers and contractors to set up a 5.5 MW solar photovoltaic project at its premises.

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.