The Railway Energy Management Company Limited (REMCL) tendered a total of 32 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed at offices, buildings, railway stations of zonal railways. The bid-submission deadline is December 21, 2017.

The projects will be developed on public-private partnership (PPP) on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The scope of work includes design, engineering, procurement, erection (including civil and structural works), installation, testing and commissioning of the grid-connected rooftop solar PV systems including operation and maintenance (O&M) of the systems for a period of 25 years after project commissioning.

The project developer will be responsible for supplying power from the commissioned grid-connected rooftop solar projects.

A central financial assistance (CFA) of ₹16,250 (~$251)/kW will be provided in general category states upon achievement of 80 percent of target or above in the allotted time, ₹9,750 (~$151)/kW for achievement below 80 percent and above 50 percent, ₹6,500 (~$100)/kW below 50 percent and above 40 percent.

In special category states and union territories, a CFA of ₹39,000 (~$603)/kW will be provided upon achievement of 80 percent of target or above in the allotted time, ₹23,400 (~$362)/kW for achievement below 80 percent and above 50 percent, ₹15,600 (~$241)/kW below 50 percent and above 40 percent.

The REMCL has regulated, one bidder can quote for a Zonal Railway of his/her choice and/or for group of Zonal Railways. The bidder will have to bid for the full quoted capacity of the Zonal Railways under a category, and not part of the capacity. If Zonal Railways have requirement of 3 MW, then the bid must be for entire 3 MW. The bidder must apply for minimum 100 percent of contracted capacity for selected Zonal Railways.

In case provision of net metering is not permitted beyond 1 MW capacity at a single metering point in any state, then the capacity of grid-connected rooftop solar power project at locations of 1 MW and above at single metering points in such states may be reduced on mutually agreed terms between project developer and concerned Zonal Railway.

In August, the REMCL auctioned 67.38 MW of rooftop solar projects for the Indian Railways. Recently, an international conference on Green Initiatives and Railway Electrification was organized in Delhi to bring together green power project developers and other stakeholders on a common platform for making the Indian Railways a more efficient and greener mode of transportation.

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