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					</table><p><a href="https://www.ohmemobility.com/about-ohm.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OHM Global Mobility</a>, a subsidiary of commercial vehicle manufacturer <a href="https://www.ashokleyland.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ashok Leyland</a>, has secured an order for 500 12-meter ultra-low floor electric buses (e-buses) from the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation (<a href="https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTC</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.switchmobilityev.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Switch Mobility</a>, another subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, will supply EiV12 model buses to OHM, which will then operate and maintain the buses for 12 years, per the contract MTC awarded.</p>
<p>A 650V electric architecture features IP67-rated batteries that power the SWITCH EiV12.</p>
<p>Out of the 500 buses, 100 buses are air-conditioned.</p>
<p>To ensure efficient operations, charging infrastructure will be developed at six key depots: Perumbur, Perumbakam, Poonamalle, Vyasapandi, Thondiapet, and KK Nagar. These charging hubs will ensure the e-buses can operate efficiently across the city, reducing downtime and enabling consistent service delivery.</p>
<p>Shenu Agarwal, MD &amp; CEO of Ashok Leyland, said Switch already has over 950 vehicles in operation, and with this order, it has grown to 2,000 vehicles.</p>
<p>OHM is Ashok Leyland’s electric mobility arm, focused on the Mobility-as-a-Service business. The e-buses are designed to seat 37 passengers and have a range of 200 km per charge.</p>
<p>In September, the government <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cabinet-pm-edrive-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the ‘‘PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism Program with an outlay of ₹34.35 billion ($409 million). The program will support the procurement and operation of over 38,000 e-buses from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.</p>
<p>Since most buses currently operated by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) run on diesel or CNG, the PM-eBus Sewa program encourages the shift to e-buses. PTAs will adopt a public-private partnership model under the gross cost contract approach, allowing original equipment manufacturers to procure and operate e-buses without requiring upfront payments from the PTAs.</p>
<p>In March, Convergence Energy Services <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cesl-invites-bids-3132-electric-buses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to select an operator for the procurement, supply, operation, and maintenance of 3,132 e-buses and the development of allied electric and civil infrastructure on gross cost contracting under Pradhan Mantri (PM)-eBus Sewa initiative.</p>


Ashok Leyland Subsidiary Wins 500 Electric Bus Order from Chennai MTC


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					</table><p>The <a href="https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern Railway</a> has invited bids to set up grid-connected rooftop solar power projects of a cumulative capacity of 1.55 MW at various service buildings and railway colonies in the Chennai division.</p>
<p>The successful bidder will oversee the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of the projects.</p>
<p>The value of the project is ₹99.6 million (~$1.19 million). Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹648,000 (~$7,792). The last date to submit bids is June 14, 2024.</p>
<p>Bidders should have completed either three similar works, each costing not less than 30% of the advertised value of the tender, two similar works amounting to 40% of the advertised value, or one similar work costing 60% of the advertised value of the tender in the last seven years.</p>
<p>A similar nature of work here refers to the completion of works of supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar PV power generating systems of at least 20% of the tendered capacity of the solar plant to central, state government, public sector undertakings or public listed company having average annual turnover of ₹5 billion (~66.6 million) and above in the last three financial years.</p>
<p>Bidders must also showcase a minimum average contractual turnover of the advertised value of the tender and the number of years prescribed for the completion of work for which bids have been invited.</p>
<p>The successful bidder must complete the project within 180 days from the contract’s award date. Joint venture firms or entities can participate in the tender.</p>
<p>In April, the Southern Railway <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/southern-railway-rooftop-solar-chennai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for installing 1.2 MW rooftop solar projects in Perambur, Chennai, under the renewable energy service company model.</p>
<p>This follows the tender <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/railway-rooftop-solar-three-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> by the South Eastern Railway for setting up 8.38 GW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of tender activity in real time.</p>


Southern Railway Invites Bids for Rooftop Solar Projects in Chennai


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					</table><p>The <a href="https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern Railway</a> has invited bids for the installation of 1.2 MW rooftop solar projects at various locations in Perambur, Chennai, under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model.</p>
<p>The bids open on May 7, 2024, and the last date to submit bids is May 21, 2024.</p>
<p>The project, with an estimated value of ₹169.8 million (~$2 million), is part of the Indian Railways&#8217; efforts to leverage renewable energy sources to power its operations. The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, testing, and commissioning of the rooftop solar PV system and its operation.</p>
<p>The cost of the tender document is ₹34,810 (~$416), and the required earnest money deposit is ₹1.28 million (~$15,300).</p>
<p>Bidders must have an average annual turnover of at least ₹15 million (~$179,000) during the last three financial years and a positive net worth in all those years. Additionally, they must have installed either a minimum of 200 kWp of grid-connected rooftop solar systems or 1,000 kWp of any grid-connected systems.</p>
<p>Joint venture firms are allowed to bid for the project, and the ranking of the bids will be from lowest to highest based on the tariff rate quoted by the bidders. Tariff rates should be exclusive of taxes and levies such as self-generation tax, network charges, and any taxes in the future. These taxes and levies will be borne by the Railways.</p>
<p>The successful bidder will be required to complete the project within 240 days from the contract&#8217;s award date.</p>
<p>Recently, South Eastern Railway <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/railway-rooftop-solar-three-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to empanel agencies for setting up 8.383 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal through public-private partnerships on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.</p>
<p>Earlier, the Asansol Division of Eastern Railway in West Bengal <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/eastern-railway-1-mw-rooftop-solar-asansol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids from solar developers to install 1 MW grid-connected rooftop solar projects on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of tender activity in real time.</p>


Southern Railway Seeks Bids for 1.2 MW Rooftop Solar Projects in Chennai


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					</table><p>NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (<a href="https://www.nvvn.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NVVN</a>), a wholly-owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC</a>, has invited bids from enlisted developers to install 6,352 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects on various buildings of public sector undertakings under the <a href="https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Defense Production</a> in the southern region.</p>
<p>The last date to submit the bids is February 1, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 2.</p>
<p>The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, engineering, testing, assessment of roofs, water arrangements, electricity security, and determination of the optimal capacity for setting up the solar power systems.</p>
<p>The projects must be completed within 270 days of receiving the work order.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) activities for ten years.</p>
<p>The systems are to be installed at 13 locations across Chennai, Hyderabad, Tiruchirappalli, Bengaluru, Nimmaluru, Vishakhapatnam, Palakkad, and Aruvankadu.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit a bid security amount of ₹5 million (~$60,188). The selected bidder must submit a contract performance guarantee amount equivalent to 10% of the contract value within 28 days of receiving the award notification.</p>
<p>They must also submit an O&amp;M performance guarantee amount equivalent to 10% of the O&amp;M contract price.</p>
<p>NVVN intends to finance the project through external commercial borrowings, domestic commercial borrowings, and its own sources.</p>
<p>Only bidders enlisted by NVVN and Class-I and Class-II Local Suppliers are eligible to participate in the tender.</p>
<p>The local content requirement to categorize a bidder as a &#8216;Class-I local supplier&#8217; is a minimum of 50%, and for a &#8216;Class-II local supplier,&#8217; the &#8216;local content&#8217; requirement is a minimum of 20%.</p>
<p>The average annual turnover of the enlisted bidders should not be less than ₹292.19 million (~$3.52 million) or in equivalent foreign currency during the preceding three financial years.</p>
<p>The net worth of the bidders as of the last day of the preceding financial year should not be less than 100% of their paid-up share capital.</p>
<p>Only modules listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and with a minimum 540 Wp capacity must be used for the projects.</p>
<p>The developer must maintain the minimum Annual Capacity Utilization Factor of 16% measured at the delivery point for the ten operational years, failing which they will be liable to pay for the shortfall in generation.</p>
<p>In July last year, NVVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-invites-bids-solar-projects-up-to-10-mw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to enlist engineering, procurement, and construction contractors to develop floating and ground-mounted solar power projects up to 10 MW.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> for timely updates on all solar tenders issued by various agencies in India.</p>


NTPC Subsidiary Issues Tender for 6.35 MW Rooftop Solar Projects


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					</table><p>Following the resounding success in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune, Mercom India is hosting its highly acclaimed <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet 2023</a> series in Chennai.</p>
<p>The event will be held on July 21, 2023, at Hyatt Regency.</p>
<p>The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, is one of the most industrialized cities in India, boasting a strategic port that serves as the &#8220;Gateway to South India.&#8221;</p>
<p>With significant consumer power demand, Chennai offers immense potential for businesses to transition toward cleaner power sources.</p>
<p>Recently, Tamil Nadu has increased the retail electricity tariff for high-tension industrial consumers by 2.2% to ₹6.90 ($0.084)/kWh and the retail tariff for commercial consumers by 2.4% to ₹8.70 ($0.11)/kWh. In light of the rising cost of power, going solar is an effective solution for commercial and industrial enterprises to reduce operational expenses while also bringing down their carbon footprint.</p>
<p>The proactive approach of Tamil Nadu&#8217;s power distribution companies in efficiently approving projects enhances the attractiveness of adopting solar energy solutions in the state. This favorable environment opens up new possibilities for businesses to embrace sustainable practices, contribute to a greener future, and bolster their bottom line simultaneously.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/q1-2023-mercom-india-solar-open-access-market-report-518-mw-installed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q1 2023 Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report</a>, Tamil Nadu had the country&#8217;s third-highest cumulative open access solar capacity as of March 2023, accounting for 10% of the total capacity.</p>
<p>At the C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet in Chennai, Beela Rajesh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Tamil Nadu, and Arvind Kumar, Managing Director at <a href="https://cpcl.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Petroleum Corporation</a>, S.Ilanahai, President, <a href="http://www.chemindassociation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chemical Industries Association</a>, and V N Shiva Shankar, Vice President, <a href="https://sicci.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SICCI</a>, will address the inaugural session.</p>
<p>This will be followed by the session titled &#8220;<strong>Clean Power Purchase – Options &amp; Technologies Maximizing ROI.&#8221; </strong>The panelists for the session are Harimohanlal, AGM &#8211; Project Development at <a href="https://www.sunsure-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunsure Energy</a>; SI Balaji, Associate Vice President at <a href="https://www.evolveindia.in/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evolve Energy</a>; Pratik Bhatt, Senior Vice President- Business Development at <a href="https://insolare.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insolare</a>; Nataraj S, Sr. AVP &#8211; RE Projects at <a href="https://swelectes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swelect Energy</a>, and Nikhil Tambe, CTO, Energy Consortium, <a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Madras</a>, and Chair, Energy Committee, <a href="https://sicci.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SICCI</a>.</p>
<p>The second session will feature discussions on &#8220;<strong>Innovative Financing Solutions – Ways to Access Cheap Loans.&#8221; </strong>The panelists for the session are Jaideep Bhopale, Lead Sales &#8211; Partnerships at <a href="https://www.ecofy.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecofy</a>; and Anburaj C, DGM at <a href="https://www.sidbi.in/en/about-sidbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SIDBI</a>.</p>
<p>The event is supported by Evolve Energy, Sunsure Energy, <a href="https://en.goodwe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoodWe</a>, Insolare Energy, <a href="https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jinko Solar</a>, Ecofy, Swelect Energy, and <a href="https://www.ginlong.com/global/inverter.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solis Inverters</a>.</p>
<p>The C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet 2023 in Chennai is designed to facilitate meaningful discussions and interactions between industry experts, developers, and C&amp;I consumers. By bringing together this diverse group of stakeholders, Mercom India aims to address pressing challenges, explore opportunities, and promote the adoption of clean energy solutions.</p>
<p>Tailored for large power capacity C&amp;I consumers seeking substantial power cost reduction, this event will address misconceptions, questions, and challenges faced by C&amp;I entities in the region.</p>
<p>Participants can expect to connect with equipment and component manufacturers, lenders, investors, and other key players actively involved in the clean energy sector.</p>
<p>Attendees will gain valuable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions for their businesses and drive the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions in Tamil Nadu.</p>
<p>Interested entities can register for the event by sending an email to <a href="https://www.sidbi.in/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">events@mercomindia.com</a>.</p>
<p>After Chennai, Mercom will host the next C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/ci-clean-energy-meet-2023-coimbatore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coimbatore</a> on September 15, 2023.</p>
<p>To find out more about the upcoming events, click <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>


Mercom to Host Clean Energy Meet for Commercial and Industrial Units in Chennai


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					</table><p>Weavers Service Centre (WSC), Chennai, has invited expressions of interest (EoI) to empanel suppliers for solar home lighting systems for weavers in Tamil Nadu under the Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS) Yojana component of the National Handloom Development Program (NHDP).</p>
<p>The solar home lighting systems will be distributed to weavers in Chennai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Ariyalur, Kanyakumari, and Nagapattinam.</p>
<p>The last day to submit the bids is November 15, 2022. Bids will be opened the next day.</p>
<p>Vendors must furnish an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹52,000 (~$628). Micro and small enterprises are exempted from paying EMD if they submit their MSME registration certificate. Startups who wish to claim EMD exemption must submit a copy of the Startup India registration certificate issued by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.</p>
<p>Empaneled suppliers must deposit a performance security amount equivalent to 3% of the contract value.</p>
<p>The central government will provide financial assistance to the extent of 90% of the cost of solar home lighting units. The weavers will bear the remaining 10%. Empaneled suppliers must deliver the lights within 60 days of receiving the weavers&#8217; financial contribution.</p>
<p>Vendors must have two years of experience in manufacturing and supplying solar home lighting between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022. The minimum local content in these lights must be 50%, and the margin of purchase preference will be 50%.</p>
<p>All items should carry an integrated warranty of two years apart from the manufacturer&#8217;s warranty. Solar modules should carry a five-year integrated warranty apart from the manufacturer&#8217;s warranty.</p>
<p>If the supplier does not supply the items within 30 days of placing the order, WSC will cancel the agreement and levy a penalty.</p>
<p>In April this year, Telecommunications Consultants India <a href="https://mercomindia.com/expression-of-interest-for-solar-trees-high-masts-and-streetlights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> an EoI to select back-end partners on a rate contract basis for supplying, installing, and maintaining solar high masts, trees, and streetlights across India.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of tender activity in real time.</p>


EoIs Invited to Supply Solar Home Lighting Systems in Tamil Nadu

500%-800% Rise in Freight Charges Adding Financial Burden on Solar Projects

<p>The Greater Chennai Corporation has planned to install solar panels on 662 of its buildings. These buildings would include government offices, schools, and hospitals and these together are expected to generate 3.06 MW of electricity.</p>
<p>The work is being carried out under the government’s Smart City Program. The total project cost is ₹224 million (~$3.17 million).</p>
<p>Under the first phase of the scheme, approximately ₹370,000 (~$ 5,233.65) was spent in installing solar panels in Padavattamman Koil Street, located in Royapuram region. The installation is for a capacity of up to 5 kW.</p>
<p>The civic body has also written to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (<a href="https://www.tangedco.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TANGEDCO</a>)  to procure bi-directional net metres for feeding back the generated power into the grid.</p>
<p>Moreover, the surplus energy generated from the civic body’s buildings is likely to be used for streetlights in the neighbourhood.</p>
<p>Under the central government’s Smart City Program, scores of cities have announced their plans for the installation of solar panels to make these cities sustainable.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/tumakuru-smart-city-rooftop-tender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For instance, in March 2018</a>, Karnataka’s <a href="http://www.smartcitytumakuru.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tumakuru Smart City Limited</a> tendered 2.7 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects to be established on the city’s government buildings.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/diu-smart-city-100-percent-renewable-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In April 2018</a>, the <a href="http://diu.gov.in/dmc-smart-city.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diu Smart City </a>became the first in the country to run on 100 percent renewable energy during daytime hours. It has developed 9 MW solar park in the city along with rooftop solar panels located on 79 government buildings, generating 1.3 MW annually.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/indore-issues-tender-for-30000-smart-meters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently</a>, Indore Smart City Development Limited also issued a tender for smart meters to be installed under Indore Smart City project. This is a percentage rate tender for the supply, installation of smart energy meters with RF Mesh Communication Module in area-based development (ABD) area.</p>
<p>Image credit: Flickr</p>


Greater Chennai Corporation’s 662 Buildings to Get Solar Panels Under Smart City Program

<p>Enphase Energy, a microinverter supplier for solar rooftop systems, has expanded into India and established offices in Chennai. The company appointed Venkata Mukundarajan in Chennai as its strategic account manager for India.</p>
<p>Venkata Mukundarajan will be responsible for driving distribution partnerships, supporting business development and expanding the preference for Enphase microinverters amongst installers.</p>
<p>The company has added local companies, Sun-AP Ecopower and Redington as new distribution partners in India.</p>
<p>The government of India’s installation target for rooftop solar is 40 GW by 2022, which would potentially be a big market for Enphase. However, according to Mercom’s <em>India Solar Project Tracker</em>, as of June 2017, only 1.08 GW of rooftop solar has been installed and rooftop installations make up just 7 percent of the total.</p>
<p>&#8220;The demand for high-quality and smart rooftop solar creates significant opportunities for us to expand in India. We are delighted to have Venkata join our team, and to be working with Redington and Sun-AP Ecopower. Together, they will help us cement our growth ambitions in this important region,” stated Nathan Dunn, MD, Enphase Asia-Pacific.</p>
<p>Customers are willing to invest in quality solar products, and Enphase&#8217;s microinverter technology continues to lead the solar industry, said Pradeep Srikanthan, VP, Solar Equipment Group of Redington. Redington has a network of more than 500 channel partners in India.</p>
<p>Srinivas Kumar, CEO and founder, Sun-AP Ecopower said, &#8220;We believe there is potential for Enphase to grow as our partners firmly believe there is a market for a smart microinverters that are simple and quick to install.&#8221;</p>
<p>During the second quarter of 2017, Enphase sold approximately 224 MW (DC) or 775,000 microinverters, an increase in MW of 39 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017.</p>
<p>Enphase announced restructuring in January and laid off 18 percent of the workforce. Enphase also lost its CEO this week who resigned after 10 years in the company.</p>
<p>Image Credit: Enphase Energy</p>


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