The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has invited bids to procure 1 GW of grid-connected solar power to meet its renewable purchase obligation and future power needs.

The last date to submit bids is April 3, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.

According to the tender document, MSEDCL will sign 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with successful bidders to buy solar power from new or existing solar projects located anywhere in India, where tariff will be discovered through a competitive bidding process followed by a reverse e-auction. Projects must be commissioned within 24 months of PPA execution.

All expenses, including wheeling charges and losses between the project and the delivery point, will be borne by the successful bidder.

The minimum capacity for a project at a single location is 50 MW, while the maximum bidding capacity is 1,000 MW per bidder. The projects can deploy any commercially established solar photovoltaic technology like crystalline silicon or thin film, with or without trackers, if such technology is in accordance with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.

Projects under construction, not yet commissioned, or lacking long-term PPAs with any agency will be considered if not already accepted under other central or state programs and without obligations to existing buyers.

The tender allows participation from companies incorporated in India as well as foreign firms. Bidding consortiums are also permitted to take part.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹800,000 (~$9,667)/MW. A performance bank guarantee of ₹2 million (~$24,168)/MW is required before signing the PPA.

The net worth of the bidder for the previous financial year must not be less than ₹10 million (~$120,000)/MW of the capacity quoted. A minimum annual turnover of ₹3.52 million/MW of the quoted capacity during the previous financial year is required.

Last month, MSEDCL said it plans to install 3 million rooftop solar systems on houses in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

Last year, MSEDCL issued multiple tenders to develop solar projects of 615 MW in aggregate capacity split into four different regions of the state.

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