The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) tendered 100 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar to be installed across the state of Tamil Nadu. The projects will be developed under CAPEX and RESCO models. The bid-submission deadline is June 21, 2017.

The generated solar will be utilized for captive applications and surplus power to feed the grid as specified in the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) guidelines on net metering.

This is a “rate contract” tender. The lowest (L1) tariff on CAPEX (up to 10 kW, >10 kW–100 kW & >100 kW–500 kW) and RESCO (26 kW–500 kW) models will be the rate contract price valid for the contract period in the 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

Sixty MW of solar will be developed under the CAPEX model, out of which 70 percent (42 MW) of capacity will be awarded to the successful bidder(s) through the tender category and the balance of 30 percent (18 MW) will be awarded under an open category for bidders willing to execute the work at the L1 (lowest) rate submitted during the tender process (with maximum allocation of 5 percent of the capacity).

Under the RESCO model, 40 MW of will be developed, out of which 70 percent (28 MW) of capacity will be awarded to the successful bidder(s) through the tender category and the balance 30 percent (12 MW) will be awarded under the open category at the L1 rate, also with a maximum allocation of 5 percent of the capacity.

The TEDA has also regulated that the bidder should be a firm or entity registered in India or a PV System Integrator in existence for at least past one audited year. The bidders participating in the rate contract tender will have to use only Indian made SPV modules.

To develop projects under the CAPEX model, the bidder will be required to quote the project cost for the supply, installation, commissioning, and five-year comprehensive maintenance of the system for projects in the range of up to 10 kW, >10 kW to 100 kW and >100 kW to 500 kW. For the CAPEX model, TEDA has fixed an upper price ceiling as follows: projects up to 10 kW (Rs.70 (~$1.08)/W), between 10 kW to 100 kW (Rs.65 (~$1.01)/W), and for projects of more than 100 kW but less than 500 kW (Rs.60 (~$0.93)/W).

To develop projects under the RESCO model the bidder will have to provide a year-on-year tariff for 25 years starting from the date of commissioning of the project for the capacity ranges from 26 kW to 500 kW. The tariff stream quoted by the bidder will then be levelized with a discount rate of 11 percent. The maximum allowable levelized tariff has been fixed at Rs.6 (~$0.093).

For projects developed under the CAPEX model, TEDA will provide 30 percent Central Financial Assistance at L1 project costs per the MNRE’s guidelines for projects on all buildings other than government institutions. For projects on government institutions, achievement-linked incentives will be provided per MNRE’s guidelines.

For projects developed under the RESCO model, TEDA will provide a fixed subsidy of Rs.19.5 (~$0.30)/W for projects ranging between 26 kW to 100 kW and a fixed subsidy of Rs.18 (~$0.28)/W for projects with capacities more than 100 kW up to 500 kW. For projects on government institutions, achievement-linked incentives will be provided per MNRE’s guidelines.

For the open category which has been specified by TEDA, developers can use any modules. “That capacity is minimal [for open category] compared to the capacity being developed using Indian modules (70 MW),” stated a TEDA official. “The agency wants this tender to be a success and that’s why we have considered both Indian modules and Open category.”