Karnataka’s Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has issued a tender that calls for the installation of 1,288 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on the city’s government buildings.

The bid-submission deadline is April 30, 2018.

The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, finance, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, as well as the operation and maintenance of the rooftop solar systems.

Mangaluru Smart City Limited will enter a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the successful bidder.

The developer will also be responsible for the evacuation of power from the rooftop solar system to the grid in line with the net metering program.

Another smart city in the state of Karnataka, Shivamogga Smart City, has also issued a tender for 430 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects to be established on the city’s government buildings.

The bid-submission deadline is April 21, 2018.

The scope of work includes the design, finance, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, as well as the operation and maintenance of the rooftop solar systems. The projects will be developed under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode.

Last month, Karnataka’s Tumakuru Smart City Limited also tendered 2.7 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects to be established on the city’s government buildings. The bid-submission deadline is May 3, 2018.

Although India has so far installed nearly 1.6 GW of rooftop solar capacity, it needs to add 38.4 GW more if it is going to achieve its targeted goal of 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2022. Of late, designated Smart Cities have begun stepping up their efforts to install the required efficient infrastructure, including rooftop solar.

That trend was also evident last year, when the municipal corporation of Raipur Smart City Limited tendered 2,155 kW of solar rooftop systems for development on government buildings in Raipur.