Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services (RUVITL) has invited bids from developers to set up 8,000 MW solar power projects in the state.

The last date for the submission of bids is June 24, 2024. Bids will open the same day.

Bidders must submit ₹29,500 (~$353.75) as the cost of the document fee and ₹500,000 (~$5,996) + 18% GST as the bid processing fee.

Bidders must also furnish an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹500,000 (~$5,996)/MW of the quoted capacity.

Selected bidders must provide a performance bank guarantee of ₹1.2 million (~$14,388)/MW per project at least seven working days before signing the PPA.

The solar power developer must set up the solar projects connected to the State Transmission Utility to supply power to RUVITL. The developer’s responsibilities include identifying land, installing and owning the project, and obtaining connectivity, approvals, and interconnection with the STU network.

Bidders, including their parent, affiliate, ultimate parent, or any group company, must submit a single bid offering a minimum contracted capacity of 4,000 MW in the specified formats.

The projects must be situated within Rajasthan, including solar parks, while the pooling substation must connect to the STU. Bidders must quote a single tariff for the total capacity offered and may opt to establish more than one project.

Each project should be designed for interconnection with the nearest substation of the STU at a voltage level of 33 kV or higher. The developer must adhere to applicable grid codes, grid connectivity standards, regulations on the communication system for electric transmission, and other relevant regulations issued by appropriate regulatory commissions and the Central Electricity Authority.

The minimum voltage for interconnection at the STU must be 33 kV. Any delays in obtaining connectivity and subsequent compliance with financial closure or commissioning of the project due to the above requirements are the developer’s responsibility, including the risk and cost of obtaining connectivity at designated substations.

Bidders must declare the project’s annual capacity utilization factor (CUF). The developer can revise this figure once within the first year after the commercial operation date.

Subsequently, the declared CUF remains unchanged for the entire PPA term, with a minimum of 17%. If, during any contract year, the developer fails to supply the minimum energy corresponding to the annual CUF’s declared lower limit, the shortfall will have to be addressed according to the PPA provisions.

RUVITL may accept part commissioning of the project provided that the minimum capacity for acceptance of the first and subsequent parts commissioning is 50 MW, without prejudice to the imposition of liquidated damages as per the PPA for the uncommissioned part.

In the case of part-commissioning, the developer must demonstrate possession of land corresponding to the commissioned part’s capacity before declaring the commissioning of said part.

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

Recently, Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam (AVVNL), a power distribution company in Rajasthan, issued four tenders to set up 768.4 MW of solar power projects under the Component C of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan program.

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