The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), the renewable energy implementing agency in Karnataka, tendered 200 MW of solar to be developed at Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka. The bid-submission deadline is January 3, 2018.

This is a retender. Initially, in July, the KREDL had issued an engineering procurement and construction (EPC) tender to develop a 200 MW solar project in Pavagada Solar Park, which was withdrawn in August 2017.

This is an EPC tender and the scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the 200 MW solar projects. The entire capacity is divided into four blocks of 50 MW each.

The KREDL will enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with distribution companies (DISCOMs) in Karnataka for 25-year period for the sale of power generated from these projects.

The successful bidder will have to develop associated transmission system for connection to grid and provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for a 10-year period. A single bidder can bid for the entire capacity tendered.

In the past a KREDL official had told Mercom, “From our side there are no issues, we are ready with all facilities. Due to certain internal issues we have withdrawn the tender, but there’s no reason for concern as the capacity will be retendered soon.”

When contacted, the same KREDL official said, the infrastructure at Pavagada Solar Park is ready, our (KREDL’s) internal issues have been sorted and this is the right time to tender as we expect these projects to be on grid by 2019.

In a recent visit to the Pavagada Solar Park, a Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited (KSPDCL) official had told Mercom, the infrastructure is being developed at a fast pace, the stations and substations will be ready soon, and if all goes per plan, by 2018 end, the entire capacity will have been awarded and construction of projects will have begun.

There has been delay in tendering. The Government of Karnataka had approved the tendering of 200 MW solar by KREDL at Pavagada Solar Park in the beginning of 2017.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, in the first phase of Pavagada Solar Park, in which 600 MW was auctioned in 2016 under NSM Phase-II, Batch 2, around 200 MW is expected to be commissioned by end of 2017, while the remaining 400 MW will be connected to the grid in early 2018.

Image credit: Mercom India Pavagada Site Visit