The Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) has floated nine tenders for solar projects in nine municipal councils totaling 12.2 MW.

The projects have been tendered under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) Abhiyan in the state.

These nine tenders issued are for areas under the municipal council or corporation of Yavatmal, Akola, Jalgaon, Latur, Amravati, Udgir, Vasai-Virar, Shirdi, and Parbhani.

The last date for the submission of bids is September 25, 2019, with the technical bid opening scheduled for September 30, 2019.

For the Yavatmal council, the total capacity for the solar power project is 3.72 MW, and the tender value is ₹167.58 million (~$2.34 million). For the Akola council, the capacity of the project is 1.40 MW. The total value of this tender is ₹63 million (~$877,310).

For Jalgaon, Shirdi, and Udgir, a project of 0.50 MW will be installed at a cost of ₹22.5 million (~$313,325) each.

A project capacity of 0.90 MW has been allotted for Latur council. The tender value for this project is ₹40.5 million (~$563,985).

For Amravati municipal council, the tender value for the 1.58 MW solar project is ₹71.1 million (~$990,107). Similarly, Vasai Virar council will get a 1 MW project valued at ₹45 million (~$626,650).

Lastly, for the Parbhani municipal council, the total capacity for the solar power project is 2.10 MW, and the tender value is ₹94.5 million (~$1.3 million).

The total value of all the tenders is estimated to be ₹549.18 million (~$7.3 million).

The scope of work includes the design engineering, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning with a five-year comprehensive maintenance contract (CMC) for all the projects.

According to MEDA, it will be the responsibility of the successful bidder to seek permission for net-metering and grid-connectivity of the solar PV systems per the guidelines of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). All engineering, procurement, and construction work, including the transportation of material and machinery to and from the project site will be the responsibility of the successful bidder.

In August 2019, Mercom had reported that the Nandurbar Municipal Council (NMC) of Maharashtra also issued three tenders for 939 kW of rooftop solar projects. The individual capacities of these tenders were 310 kW, 314 kW, and 315 kW.

Earlier this year, the Public Works Department (PWD) of Amravati division in the state of Maharashtra had also issued a tender to install 2 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV systems.

According to Mercom India Solar Tracker, 10.9 GW of projects have been tendered in Maharashtra out of which 175 MW are rooftop tenders.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.