NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL) has invited bids for land and power evacuation packages to develop 900 MW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar power project in the Neemuch Region of Madhya Pradesh.

The last date to submit the bids is July 10, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.

The cost of the bidding documents is ₹22,500 (~$270).

The scope of work includes securing 5 acres per MW of contiguous land on either a freehold or leasehold basis, situated near the Neemuch ISTS substation for a minimum duration of 29 years and 11 months. No more than 10% of the total land can consist of government property.

The selected bidder must construct an access road with appropriate signage leading to the pooling substation and ensure connectivity between plots, independently or via state assistance.

The successful bidder will be responsible for conducting a topography survey of the land parcels, performing any necessary land modifications like cutting or filling to achieve 95% compaction as per the standard proctor density test, and ensuring the land maintains an average slope of 10%. This is crucial for installing tracker-based module mounting structures, with a preference for the slope extending in a single direction over a minimum length of 100m in the north-south axis.

The selected bidder must also build a 220 kV/400 kV AIS pooling substation complete with a power transformer, an associated substation automation system, and protection measures to handle the proposed capacity and necessary reactive power. This includes installing 33 kV pooling switchgear and conducting all related civil work for the substation, including the control room and switchgear buildings.

The project also involves designing and constructing an extra-high-voltage transmission line that extends from the pooling substation to the ISTS substation.

Furthermore, the selected bidder must provide three years of operation and maintenance services for the pooling substation, associated equipment, and the extra-high-voltage transmission line, including the terminal bay at the ISTS end.

Bidders should have arranged land or obtained technical feasibility approval for power evacuation through intra-state or ISTS substations for grid-connected solar wind or wind-solar hybrid power projects of 100 MW or higher cumulative capacity. Out of this, at least one project should have a capacity of 50 MW or higher.

The average annual turnover of the bidders for any three out of the preceding five financial years, as of the bid opening date, should not be less than the specified financial figure below:

• The minimum annual turnover for a quoted capacity of 50 MW- 300 MW should be ₹125.7 million (~$1.5 million).
• The minimum annual turnover for a quoted capacity of more than 300 MW should be ₹419,000 (~$5,019)/MW.

Bidders should also have a positive net worth on the last day of the preceding financial year.

In March, NTPC REL invited bids for the land and power evacuation package to set up a 150 MW grid-connected solar power project in Bhadla, Rajasthan.

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