Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has issued a request for selection (RfS) for developing 264 MW of solar projects to solarize 75,000 grid-connected pumps under Component-C of the PM-KUSUM program.

The 66 projects, each with a capacity of 4 MW, will be near 66 evacuating substations and associated 11 KV transmission lines.

The scope of the work covers the design, survey, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the projects through the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode. The successful bidders must operate and maintain the projects for 25 years. The scope also includes integrating project RMS data with the PM-KUSUM program portal.

The last date to submit bids is September 23, 2024. Bids will be opened on September 24.

The projects must be commissioned within 12 months of the letter of award.

Bidders must pay a processing fee of ₹10,000 (~$119.16) + other applicable taxes for the document and an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹100,000 million/MW (~$1,191.64). Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises are exempted from the EMD. The successful bidder must furnish a performance bank guarantee of ₹500,000  (~$5,957)/MW after the project is awarded.

Projects must be set up preferably within 5 km of the evacuating substation. PEDA or Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) will not provide the land to the solar power generators.

The successful bidders will get central financial assistance of 30% of the project cost up to ₹10.5 million (~$125,182) per MW.

Bidders will be allocated sites through the bucket-filling method and will sign power purchase agreements with the PSPCL for the rights to sell the power for 25 years. PSPCL will purchase the solar power generated at the tariff derived through the selection process of the individual project accepted by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The substation-wise notified capacity is limited to 4 MW. Bids can be placed for a capacity equal to a single substation’s total notified capacity or the cumulative notified capacity of multiple projects to be set up at different evacuating substations.

Bidders should have a positive net worth for FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24. They should have enough liquidity to manage the fund requirements for the project, which will be assessed through the average annual turnover for these years to be at least ₹4 million (~$47,696)/MW for the capacity bid.

In the case of a consortium or joint venture, both members should meet the positive net worth criteria. The lead member can meet the turnover criteria independently or by both members.

Only the net worth criteria of ₹4 million (~$47,696) per MW for newly incorporated bidding companies must be met.

In July, PEDA issued a tender for designing, supplying, installing, and commissioning 20 MW of grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems on government buildings across Punjab and Chandigarh.

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