Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) has issued a request for qualification (RfQ) to set up 100 MW of grid-connected floating solar projects on a design, build, own, and operate model.

The last date to submit bids is December 29, 2021. Bids will be opened on December 31. The pre-bid meeting will take place on December 15.

KSEBL is expected to sign power purchase agreements with solar developers for 25 years for these floating solar projects subject to a tariff approved by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC).

Bidders do need to furnish any earnest money deposit for this tender.

The scope of work includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of floating solar projects and evacuation and transmission of power up to the nearest substation. The successful bidders must provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for these projects.

The successful bidders must use only commercially established and operational technology to minimize the technology risk and commission the projects on time.

The projects will be developed at eight reservoirs owned by KSEBL and two reservoirs owned by Kerala Water Authority. The bidder must quote for a minimum of 100 MW involving at least three reservoir sites listed.

To be eligible, bidders must have developed a total of 10 MW of ground-mounted solar or floating solar projects in the last five years. At least 100 kW of floating solar projects should be in operation for a minimum of three months before the bids are opened.

Bidders should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹500 million (~$6.66 million) in any three years of the last five years and solvency of ₹100 million (~$1.33 million).

Earlier this month, KSEBL issued a tender to develop 40 MW of solar projects of 500 kW and 2 MW capacity under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

In May this year, KSEBL  invited bids for an operation and maintenance contract for a 1 MW grid-connected, ground-mounted solar project.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, KSEBL has issued tenders for 1,497 MW of solar capacity to date.