The Central Electricity Board of Mauritius (CEB) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) for the purchase of power from small-scale renewable energy hybrid facilities, in line with its objective of increasing the share of renewables in the power generation mix to 35% by 2025 and 60% by 2030.

Bidders must set up renewable energy hybrid facilities comprising solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to guarantee a firm and stable power output to CEB’s grid. The net output capacity for each renewable energy hybrid facility should be 10 MW to 30 MW.

The last day to submit the bids is June 22, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day. The tender is open to all the global bidders eligible as per the criteria set in the bid document.

The successful bidders will sign an energy supply and purchase agreement (ESPA) with the CEB for 20 years. CEB intends to accommodate an aggregate of 100 MW renewable energy capacity from this procurement. A developer may propose for one or more renewable energy hybrid facilities, but the capacity of each project should be above 10 MW and limited to 30 MW.

Successful bidders must commission the renewable energy hybrid facilities within 24 months following the signing of the ESPA. The benchmark tariff for purchasing power from the proposed renewable energy hybrid facilities is MUR4.50 (~$0.10)/kWh.

The selected bidder must submit a bid security amount of MUR1 million (~$22,790)/MW within 30 days from signing the ESPA. A commercial bank or insurance company operating in Mauritius must issue the bid security.

Bidders must have experience developing and commissioning a minimum of two utility-scale solar farms of at least 10 MW over the last ten years as a developer, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, or specialized sub-contractor.

Bidders must have experience developing and commissioning a minimum of two grid-interactive BESS of at least 5 MWh over the last ten years as a developer, EPC contractor, or specialized sub-contractor.

The developers must also install communication equipment for a secure transfer of operating data and protection and control signals via fiber optic cables as per the specification in the ESPA. The successful bidders will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of its communication equipment installed in CEB’s substation during the term of the ESPA.

Power from the renewable energy hybrid facilities must be delivered to the interconnection point and will be metered at the point of delivery in eligible substations. It will be the successful bidder’s responsibility to erect the 66kV transmission line from the location of the renewable energy hybrid facilities to the point of delivery. Successful bidders must procure necessary resources and bare the costs needed to interconnect to CEB’s point of delivery.

Successful bidders will also be responsible for securing all land rights, permits, easements, and rights of way needed to construct, operate, and maintain the 66 kV transmission line from the renewable energy hybrid facilities to the point of delivery.

In December 2021, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited had invited bids from contractors for an EPC package to develop an 8 MWAC solar project at Henrietta (Phase-II), Tamarind Falls, Mauritius.