The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) has invited bids to empanel firms to develop 250 MW of solar power projects.

The projects would be set up under the Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana. Under the program, 10,000 solar projects would be installed, and the maximum benchmark cost for a 1 kW solar power project has been set as ₹40,000 (~$541.04)/kW.

The state recently extended the control period for benchmark capital costs and generic tariffs as a one-time exception. This was done for 10,000 25 kW grid-connected solar projects totaling 250 MW that would be set up to create income opportunities for youth who had to migrate back home due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The scope of work includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of 10,000 solar power projects under the state program.

The last date to submit the bids has been set as November 30, 2020, and the pre-bid meeting will take place on November 03, 2020. The projects must be completed before March 31, 2022.

Interested bidders will have to submit an amount of ₹1 million (~$13,526) as the bid security amount.  A maximum capacity of 25 kW will be allocated to a single bidder, and the total cost for the installation of a 25-kW solar power project will be ₹1 million (~$13,526). The projects will be allocated only to the unemployed youth and low-income residents of the state.

Under the program, the state will provide 70% of the total expense as a loan to the successful bidder, and the remaining amount will be provided as the margin money. The loan will be valid for 15 years.

The empanelled firm should supply all the material within three months, and the installation and commissioning of the project should not exceed six months from the date of the issue of the work order.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should be a permanent Uttarakhand resident and be over 18 years old. Under the program, the bidder will be eligible to set up a solar power project on his private land. Also, benefits will be provided to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

As per the tender documents, the total solar array capacity should not be less than the allocated capacity and should comprise solar crystalline modules of a minimum of 300 Wp. The module frame should be made up of corrosion-resistant materials, preferable anodized aluminum.

As per Mercom’s Renewable Energy Regulatory Updates, UERC extended the validity of benchmark capital cost and levelized generic tariffs for solar projects to March 31, 2021. The Commission had previously extended the benchmark capital cost’s validity and levelized generic tariffs for solar projects up to September 30, 2020, back in May 2020.

According to Mercom’s Solar Tender Tracker, UREDA has issued around 291.3 MW of solar tenders so far.