The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has tendered 50 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed in the northern region of the state. The bid-submission deadline is May 5, 2018.

The projects will be developed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis and will cater to the agricultural (AG) feeder load of various substations in the northern region of Maharashtra.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the grid-connected solar PV projects.

The successful bidder will have to provide operation and maintenance services for a period of 25 years. The project will not be developed at a single location, but on an aggregated basis.

To cut down its losses, MAHAGENCO is investing in solarization of AG feeder across Maharashtra. Vidarbha, western Maharashtra, and Marathwada are the regions of the state where the farmers are entirely dependent on power to meet their agricultural needs.

In the past, cost issues prompted MAHAGENCO to shut down four of its thermal power projects in Maharashtra due to poor offtake by the state power distribution company and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL).

Mercom previously reported about MAHAGENCO’s plans to solarize Maharashtra’s agricultural feeders by constructing 1,500 MW of solar project capacity, with capacity at each individual project expected to range from a minimum of 2 MW to a maximum of 50 MW.

The MAHAGENCO had invited expression of interest (EoI) from developers, landowners, and bidders for the development of up to 50 MW of solar power projects that will cater to the state’s agricultural (AG) feeder load.

In December 2017, MAHAGENCO issued three separate tenders for a total of 300 MW of grid-connected solar capacity to supply power to AG feeders.

Image credit: By mckaysavage [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons