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					</table>Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (<a href="http://mnreda.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNREDA</a>) has invited bids for the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of grid-connected solar and solar plus battery storage projects under the Meghalaya Community Intervention Project.
The projects aim to enhance the livelihood of Meghalaya’s rural community through renewable energy systems.
The projects will be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has provided a $2 million grant, linked to a loan of $132.9 million to assist the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation (MePDCL).
The proposed grant aims at helping targeted communities by providing solar power, battery hybrid systems (on and off-grid), and rooftop solar systems in schools that are under the scope of the loan.
The scope also includes the installation of solar LED lighting, grid improvement, and buildings.
The last date to submit the bids online is June 7, 2023. Bids will be opened the following day.
Bidders must submit ₹800,000 (~$9,753) as a bid security deposit.
The project must be commissioned within nine months from the date of the issuance of the award letter.
To participate in the bidding process, the bidder &#8211; as a contractor, joint venture partner, or subcontractor should have successfully completed similar projects where the value of the bidder’s participation under each contract must be more than ₹50 million (609,535).
Also, bidders should have successfully designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned battery-based hybrid projects, including an energy management system to monitor the photovoltaic output, including a battery energy storage system (BESS). The minimum size of the solar component should be 50 kW, and the minimum size of the battery should be 25 kWh.
Additionally, bidders should have two years of operation and maintenance experience in battery-based hybrid systems, including an energy management system.
The minimum average annual turnover of bidders should be at least ₹95 million (~$1.16 million) during the last three financial years.
Bidders must also demonstrate that they have the financial resources to meet the capital requirement of the subject contract of ₹21 million (~$256,005).
The solar modules and cells used should be made in India. The module model number must be from the latest, including amendments published Approved List of Models and Modules issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Last year, MePDCL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/consultancy-tender-solar-project-meghalaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> an expression of interest (EoI) to select consultants for preparing a detailed project report for setting up a 50 MW ground-mounted grid-connected solar project, including a transmission network and substation at Naringre under East Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
Earlier, the government of Meghalaya had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/consultancy-tender-solar-project-meghalaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to empanel firms for the design, engineering, and installation of hydro, solar, wind, and biomass projects in the state.
Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/consultancy-tender-solar-project-meghalaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of real-time tender activity.

Meghalaya Invites Bids for Solar and Solar Plus Battery Projects

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					</table>The Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://mserc.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSERC</a>) has allowed <a href="https://www.dalmiacement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dalmia Cement</a> to offset its renewable purchase obligation (RPO) with the power generated from its waste heat recovery boiler (WHRB).
Additionally, the Commission exempted Dalmia Cement from meeting its RPO target as long as the power generated and consumed from its WHRB exceeds the required RPO target.
Background
Dalmia Cement’s cement factory in Meghalaya is powered by a 25 MW thermal power plant located on its premises. The company is also installing a 5.6 MW WHRB to generate electricity from the waste heat produced during cement manufacturing.
Dalmia Cement has so far always satisfied its RPO by purchasing either renewable energy (solar and non-solar) or renewable energy certificates (REC).
The company is currently installing a WHRB and requested permission to fulfill its RPO using its electricity, as it is classified as a cogeneration power plant according to the Electricity Act.
The petitioner pointed out that Appellate Tribunal for Electricity and various state commissions have granted exemptions or allowed set-offs against the RPO requirement for obligated entities that consume power generated by WHRB.
Dalmia Cement argued that for RPO obligations, cogeneration plants should be treated the same as renewable energy plants. It claimed that obligated entities that generate electricity through waste heat recovery for their use and consumption are not required to fulfill RPO obligations as long as the generation from the waste heat recovery plant exceeds the total RPO needed by the company.
Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency agreed to allow the company to offset its RPO with the electricity generated by its WHRB as long as all applicable regulations and laws are followed.
Commission’s Analysis
The Commission was convinced of the genuineness of the matter and relaxed the provisions of its RPO regulations to allow Dalmia Cement to offset its RPO with the power generated from its WHRB and extend the RPO exemption under the condition specified in the petition.
The respondent in the case, Director of Meghalaya New &amp; Renewable Energy Development Agency, submitted its recommendation in favor of Dalmia Cement.
Last December, the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://mercomindia.com/consumer-captive-cogeneration-exempted-rpo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exempted</a> Dalmia Cement from RPO when its consumption from its cogeneration sources is higher than its RPO.
Subscribe to our real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure that you never miss any critical updates from the renewable energy industry.

Meghalaya Regulator Exempts Captive Cogeneration Consumer from RPO Compliance

Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (<a href="http://mnreda.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MNREDA</a>) has issued a tender for 3 MW grid-connected solar rooftop projects under the net metering arrangement.
The tender has been floated under the central financial assistance (CFA) program.
Apart from the installation and commissioning, the successful bidders will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project for five years. Out of the total capacity of 3 MW, MNREDA has decided to reserve 500 kW under the CAPEX (capital expenditure) model.
The project should be completed within 120 days. The last date for the submission of bids is November 20, 2019, and the technical bids will be opened on November 21, 2019.
The earnest money deposit (EMD) for the tender is ₹590 (~$8.31)/kW for new entrepreneurs and ₹1,180 (~$16.62)/kW for regular vendors. The tender further specifies that new entrepreneurs applying under this category will be required to meet the financial eligibility criteria proportionate to a minimum capacity of 50 kW. These new entrepreneurs will not be required to submit any financial proposals and merely have to agree to match the lowest quote within seven days of the opening of the financial bid. Moreover, no consortium will be allowed to bid under the open category.
Bidders should have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned a cumulative capacity of at least 100 kW of rooftop projects, which should have been commissioned at least six months before techno-commercial bid opening. Moreover, the bidder should have a minimum net worth of ₹15,000 ($212)/kW of bidding capacity as per its latest audited accounts.
As per the document, the solar power generated may be utilized for captive consumption by the MNREDA, and the surplus power will be fed to the grid as per the grid connectivity specified in Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://mserc.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MSERC</a>).
Last year, MSERC <a href="https://mercomindia.com/meghalaya-regulations-deviation-settlement-solar-wind/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> new regulations for the forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement for solar and wind energy generation in the state. As per the new regulations, MSERC would impose deviation charges on project developers and procurers for under as well as over the injection of power into the grid.
The growth in the residential rooftop solar segment has been slow, especially in states like Meghalaya. To address this, the MNRE recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-solar-rooftop-program-guidelines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> operational guidelines to implement the second phase of its grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic program. Under the program, 4,000 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the residential sector would be set up with CFA for which DISCOMs and its local offices will be the nodal points for the implementation of the program.

Meghalaya Floats Tender for 3 MW of Rooftop Solar Projects with Net Metering

The Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://mserc.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSERC</a>) has issued new regulations for Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation (RPO) and its compliance. These regulations will apply to the state of Meghalaya and will come into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette of Meghalaya.
These regulations will apply to all distribution licensees (DISCOMs), captive users, and open access consumers in Meghalaya. The RPO specified in this regulation will be valid up to March 31, 2021.
MSERC has fixed 0.75 percent solar RPO and 3.25 percent non-solar RPO for the financial year (FY) 2018-19. Moreover, it has fixed 1 percent as solar RPO and 4 percent as non-solar RPO for FY 2019-20. MSERC has also fixed 1.25 percent solar RPO and 4.75 percent non-solar RPO for FY 2020-21.
RPO will be applicable on the total consumption of electricity by an obligated entity, excluding consumption from hydro.
Key Highlights
<ul>
<li>In case of DISCOM being an obligated entity, the RPO target percentage will be applicable on the energy input.</li>
<li>In case of any other obligated entity, the RPO target percentage will be applicable on the actual electricity consumption (excluding consumption supplied by DISCOM) recorded at the consumption point.</li>
<li>All obligated entities must register themselves with RPO compliance and monitoring web tool and furnish requisite information to state agency.</li>
<li>Electricity consumed by an obligated entity from grid‐connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system will qualify towards compliance of its solar RPO.</li>
<li>Electricity generated by any non‐obligated entity from grid‐connected rooftop solar PV system will qualify towards meeting the solar RPO of the DISCOM. In such cases, the DISCOM must install solar generation meter at an appropriate location to measure the energy generated from such a system.</li>
<li>The Meghalaya Non‐Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency Commission (MNREDA) is the state agency for accreditation and recommending the renewable energy projects for registration with central agency.</li>
<li>If the obligated entity does not fulfill its RPO during any year and does not purchase adequate certificate for meeting the shortfalls, the MSERC will direct the obligated entity to deposit the amount into a separate RPO fund.</li>
<li>The MNREDA will inform of such shortfall if any a month prior to close of the year.</li>
<li>The penalty enforced by MSERC on the obligated entity will not be a pass through in the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) in case the obligated entity is a DISCOM.</li>
<li>In case of difficulty in complying with the RPO due to non‐availability of certificates, the obligated entity can approach the MSERC for carry forward of compliance requirement to the next year.</li>
<li>Renewable energy generating sources will have priority for open access and connectivity with distribution system or transmission system.</li>
</ul>
In the current regulations, the MSERC has drastically increased the RPO percentages. Per the earlier MSERC RPO regulations, solar RPO was 0.41 percent and non-solar 1.09 percent for FY 2015-16, 0.42 percent and 1.58 percent for FY 2016-17 and 0.43 percent and 2.07 percent for FY 2017-18.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/saubhagya-meghalaya-launch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently</a> Meghalaya joined the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna (<a href="https://mercomindia.com/solar-power-packs-electrify-remote-areas-new-government-program/">SAUBHAGYA</a>) program, which aims to provide last-mile connectivity to all willing households in India by 2018. This will lead to heightened electricity demand in the state. The current regulations will ensure that a sizeable portion of new electricity generation capacity addition in the state will be renewables.
Image credit: Flickr

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