The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has floated a tender for 3.205 GW grid-connected solar power projects under feeder-level solarization of PM KUSUM component C2 program.

The deadline for bid submission is August 27, 2024, with bids opening the following day.

Bidders must pay ₹1,180 (~$14.09) as a document fee and ₹2,950 (~$35.2)/MW.

An earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹100,000 (~$1,194.7)/MW is also required. Bidders can submit bids for any number of substations or projects without any cap on total bid capacity.

Bidders must furnish a performance bank guarantee of ₹100,000 (~$1,194.7)/MW, which will be returned after the end of the power purchase agreement (PPA) tenure, considering any penalties due.

Bidders must have an average annual turnover of ₹20 million (~$238,954)/MW of capacity quoted over the last five financial years. The net worth of the bidder or lead member of a consortium must be positive for the previous three financial years.

Only one bid per substation/project is allowed, and all feeders from one substation are considered one project.

The substations selected for feeder-level solarization must have at least one dedicated agricultural feeder from a 33/11 kV substation with the capacity to accommodate the proposed solar project.

The PPA duration is 25 years, with the project commissioning date set for 12 months from the date of the PPA signing.

The delivery point for solar plants up to 2.55 MW will be the 11 kV side, and for projects above 2.55 MW, it will be the 33 kV side of the concerned 33/11 kV GSS of DISCOM.

The solar power generator must achieve a minimum Capacity Utilization Factor of 19% annually during the PPA period.

Developers will receive a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 30% of the estimated installation cost, up to ₹10.5 million (~$125,449)/MW.

The CFA will be disbursed in three installments: 30% upon 30% completion of work, 30% upon 75% completion, and the remaining 40% upon full completion and two months of operation.

Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government will provide Viability Gap Funding of up to ₹5 million (~$59,727)/MW, disbursed in three installments: 30% upon 30% completion of work, 30% upon 75% completion, and 40% upon full completion and two months of successful operation.

In March, UPNEDA floated a tender to select solar project developers to set up 600 MW grid-connected solar power projects in Jhansi Solar Park.

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