Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (RVUNL) has issued a tender to select solar project developers to set up 810 MW of state transmission utility-(STU) connected solar power projects on a build-own-operate basis in RVUNL’s Ultra Mega Solar Park in Bikaner.

The tender was issued in November but was immediately canceled thereafter.

RVUNL will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the selected bidder for 25 years from the scheduled commissioning of the project, and the generated power will be supplied to the state DISCOMs.

The selected developer will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project for the PPA duration.

The grid-connected solar projects will be set up in RVUNL’s 2 GW Ultra Mega Solar Park, being developed at villages Ramsar Chhota, Barala, and Bandrewala.

The selected developer must commission the solar project within 15 months of the PPA signing date.

The last day to submit the bids is February 22, 2023. Bids will be opened on February 24.

Bidders must submit a tender processing fee of ₹1 million (~$12,097) plus GST and an earnest money deposit of ₹720 million (~$8.71 million).

The selected project developer must furnish a contract performance security of ₹1.44 billion (~$17.42 million) within 30 days of the letter of intent and before signing the PPA.

The solar project should be designed for interconnection with the pooling substation at the solar park through a dedicated cable at a voltage level of 33 kV.

The cost of transmission from the project up to the interconnection point, wheeling charges, and losses will be borne by the project developer and will not be reimbursed.

Bidders should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹4.05 billion (~$49 million) for the last financial year. Their net worth should be equal to or greater than ₹7.2 billion (~$87.12 million) at the end of the financial year 2021-22.

Bidders must also have an internal resource generation capability in the form of Profit Before Depreciation, Interest, and Taxes for a minimum of ₹810 million (~$9.8 million) at the end of the financial year 2021-22. They must also have an in-principle sanction letter from lending institutions committing a line of credit for a minimum of ₹1.01 billion (~$12.22 million) towards meeting the working capital requirement.

The modules used in the project must be from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The declared annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) should in no case be less than 19%, and the successful bidder must maintain generation to achieve annual CUF within + 10% and -15% of the declared value till the end of ten years from commissioning. This is subject to the yearly CUF remaining at a minimum of 15% and within +10% and – 20% of the declared value of the annual CUF until the end of the PPA duration.

The project developer would be free to sell any excess generation above the agreed CUF of 10% to either RVUNL or to sell it to any other entity, provided the first right of refusal rests with RVUNL. If accepted by the DISCOMs or beneficiaries, such excess energy may be purchased by RRVUNL for 75% of the tariff payable to the project developer.

In October, the Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam invited consultants to provide load and renewable energy generation forecasting and schedule optimizer services for two years. The consultants were required to help it prepare, plan and advise on energy portfolio management to provide 24×7 quality power to all consumers while minimizing the power purchase cost.

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