Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to empanel developers for setting up 50 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems on government buildings under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model.

The scope of work includes obtaining design, engineering, supply, storage, civil work, erection, testing, and commissioning of the rooftop solar project, including operation & maintenance (O&M) of the project for the term of the power purchase agreement (PPA).

The last date to submit the bids is November 22, 2022. Bids will be opened on November 25.

Bidders will have to submit ₹900,000 (~$11,076) as an earnest money deposit. The successful bidder will have to furnish a performance guarantee equivalent to ₹1.35 million (~$16.614)/MW/project before signing the PPA.

Bidders can submit a single bid offering a minimum contracted capacity of 1 MW and a maximum capacity of 10 MW, with each project size being between 100 kW to 500 kW only.

The responsibility of getting connectivity and necessary approvals for grid connection and net-metering will entirely be with the solar power developer.

The zone-wise list of states, along with the maximum capacity to be allocated under each zone, is mentioned below:

 

For projects located in Zones I, II & III, the scheduled commissioning date will be nine months from the effective date of the PPA. For projects located in Zone IV, the commission date will be 12 months from the effective date of the PPA.

To be eligible, bidders must have experience in the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected solar power projects of a cumulative capacity not less than 50% of quoted capacity in the last seven years before the bid submission deadline. The solar power project must have been in successful operation for at least one year.

Bidders must have experience in the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of at least two grid-connected solar power projects of individual capacity not less than 250 kW in the last seven years before the bid submission deadline. The project must have been in successful operation for at least one year.

The net worth of bidders should be at least ₹9 million (~$110,761)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the last date of the previous financial year.

The minimum average annual turnover of bidders should be at least ₹18 million (~$221,522)/MW of the quoted capacity during the last three financial years.

Bidders should demonstrate a working capital or line of credit for a minimum amount of ₹11.25 million (~$138,452)/MW of the quoted capacity as of the last day of the previous financial year.

SECI has stated that the solar modules to be used for the project must be procured from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) as issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Earlier, SECI’s tender for 97.5 MW of rooftop solar projects on government buildings across India was delayed due to frequent timeline extensions,  inadequate bidder interest, and many bidders backing out of their projects.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, SECI has so far floated a tender for 1.2 GW of rooftop solar projects.