The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited’s (RUMSL) tender for the 600 MW floating solar park at the Omkareshwar reservoir in Madhya Pradesh has received an overwhelming response,  according to Mercom sources.

RUMSL is a joint venture between the Solar Energy Corporation of India and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

The 600 MW capacity will comprise six units of 100 MW each of grid-connected floating solar photovoltaic projects to be developed at pre-identified locations at the Omkareshwar reservoir. RUMSL will provide the evacuating infrastructure for the projects.

The technical bid opening was for the project’s first phase with a 300 MW capacity, and the reverse auction has been scheduled for May 6, 2022. Sources say the technical bids for the second phase of the remaining 300 MW will be scheduled shortly.

A total of 15 bidders have been shortlisted for the tender, including 14 domestic and one foreign bidder.

The bidders are NHDC, Avaada Energy, Aditya Birla, SJVN, NTPC, Tata Power, Amp Energy, Solarpack, Hinduja Renewables Energy, Adani Renewable Energy, Enel Green Power India, Navayuga Engineering Company, Phelan Energy, Power Mech Projects and O2 Power.

Floating solar projects address the issue of land requirements generally found in ground-mount projects. But even with several advantages, the floating solar installations have been slow. India has about 170 MW of floating solar projects currently in operation compared to 52 GW of solar installed in the country.

In April this year, RUMSL also issued a request for proposal (RfP) for consultancy firms to prepare a feasibility report of three reservoirs in Madhya Pradesh to develop floating solar projects.

In August 2020, NHDC, a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the Madhya Pradesh government, invited bids for a 25 MW floating solar power project at the same Omkareshwar reservoir.

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