The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has tendered 750 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to cater to the agricultural (AG) feeder load of various substations across the state.

The bid-submission deadline is July 20, 2018.

MAHAGENCO has also provided a green-shoe option in this tender through which any participant bidder can choose to develop another 250 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects at the lowest (L1) tariff discovered in the auction. The capacity has been tendered under Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Feeder program.

MAHAGENCO has fixed ₹3.25 (~$0.0477)/kWh as the upper tariff ceiling for this tender. A single bidder can bid for the entire capacity tendered. The minimum project size is 2 MW at a single location. MAHAGENCO has specified that the bidder needs to identify the land required for the project within the periphery of 3 kilometers from a substation. MAHAGENCO has provided a list of substations for bidders.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the grid-connected solar PV projects. The project should be designed for delivery of energy at 33/11 kV level substation of MSEDCL. SPD will provide the evacuation arrangement from the solar power plant to the nearest substation. O&M of this evacuation system for 25 years will be the responsibility of the SPD.

MAHAGENCO will enter 25-year PPA with the successful bidder. MAHAGENCO will further sell the power to MSEDCL. The developer will have 395 days from the date of execution of PPA to commission the project.

MAHAGENCO has specified, “The PV modules must qualify to the latest edition of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell Modules IEC 61215, Thin Film Modules IEC 61646, or Concentrator PV modules IEC 62108 standards. PV modules must also qualify to IEC 61730 for safety qualification testing @1000 V DC or higher. For the PV modules to be used in a highly corrosive atmosphere throughout their lifetime, they must qualify to IEC 61701.”

Mercom recently reported that in the state of Maharashtra, all the grid-connected solar PV projects developed under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana will not be required to pay property tax for a period of 30 years.”

When contacted, a MAHAGENCO official confirmed that these projects can avail this rebate wherever applicable. The official further said MAHAGENCO has set a target of 2,500 MW under the AG feeder program.

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