The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) has floated a tender for 45 MW of rooftop solar projects across the state.

The estimated capacity of the project is 50 MW, which can either be increased or decreased as per the availability of the capacity and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) allocation as approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Out of the 45 MW, the expected capacity of this solar project under Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JVVN) is 25 MW, 5 MW is under Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL), and 15 MW is under the Jodhpur Vidyut Viran Nigam Limited (JVVNL).

The estimated project cost for 25 MW is ₹1.35 billion (~$19 million), and it is ₹540 million (~$7.6 million) for 15 MW.

Also, there is a variation in the earnest money deposit (EMD) for the established entrepreneur and start-up firms.

If the bidder is an established entrepreneur, they pay ₹540,000 (~$7,627) as EMD, and for start-up firms, the rate has been fixed at ₹216,000 (~$3,051).

The last date for the submission of bids is November 29, 2019, while the date for the technical bid has been scheduled for December 3, 2019. The time for the completion of work is nine months.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the grid-connected solar PV projects. It also involves entering into supply and comprehensive maintenance contract (CMC) agreement. The CMC will be for a period of five years.

According to the RRECL, established entrepreneurs and start-up firms need to furnish their proposals for 500 kW and 200 kW, respectively. If the bidder is an established entrepreneur, they should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹10 million (~$0.14 million), and the total turnover in the previous three financial years should be ₹30 million ($0.42 million) or more.  However, for start-up firms, no financial turnover limit is mandatory.

In September 2019, Mercom reported that the RRECL issued a tender for 50 MW of rooftop solar projects under the RESCO model.

Previously, it was reported that the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, on behalf of the Rajasthan government, launched its Solar Energy Policy 2019. The policy states that Rajasthan aims to deploy 25 GW of solar energy capacity by 2020-21 and 50 GW over the next five to six years to meet the renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) of distribution companies.

The state has an installed solar capacity of 3.5 GW as of Q2 2019, according to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker.  A total of 442 MW of solar projects are under development in the state.