The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) has announced that 119 companies have been selected to develop 45 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems across the state.

The project was floated under the ‘Rooftop Solar Power Generation Program 2019-20,’ and it also includes free comprehensive maintenance for five years. RRECL has allocated 38.9 MW capacity out of the total 45 MW.

Six companies have been awarded a letter of allocation to develop 1,500 kW of projects each, and four companies have been allotted 1,000 kW each, 14 companies with 500 kW each, one with 250 kW, and rest 94 companies are allotted 200 kW each. Companies that have been awarded 1,500 kW of capacity each include Sunrays EPC Energies, Insolation Energy, Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments, Sologics India, DSR International, and Primus Energy.

Last year in November, RRECL had floated a tender for 45 MW of rooftop solar projects across the state. The estimated capacity of the project was 50 MW, which could 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 (JVVNL) was 25 MW, 5 MW under Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL), and 15 MW under the Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JdVVNL).

In January this year, RRECL issued the counter-offer to the techno-commercially qualified bidders to match the lowest (L1) prices.  The technical bids were opened on December 19, 2019, and the financial bids were opened on January 21, 2020. The price slabs for the three distribution companies of Ajmer, Jaipur, and Jodhpur are as follows:

The firms which have to pay the security deposit for more than ₹1 million (~$13,262.5) can submit their security deposit in the form of a bank guarantee valid up to June 30, 2021. In such a case, the earnest money deposit (EMD) deposited by the company will be refunded by RRECL.

In December last year, Rajasthan released its Solar Energy Policy, 2019, which aims to achieve a target of 30 GW of solar power by the financial year 2024-25. Of this, utility or grid-scale solar parks will account for 24 GW, distributed generation is expected to account for 4 GW, the solar rooftop will total 1 GW, and solar pumps will make up the remaining 1 GW.

Earlier, RRECL issued a tender for 50 MW of rooftop solar projects under the RESCO model. The scope of work included the design, supply, erection, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance for 25 years of the grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects on state government buildings.