The West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited (WBGEDCL) has issued a tender for 600 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems to be set up in the state. The bid-submission deadline is January 11, 2019.

This is an engineering procurement and construction (EPC) tender and the estimated project cost is ₹36,000,000 (~$512,710). Sixty rooftop solar systems of capacity 10 kW each will be set up at various locations in Jhargram and Purulia districts of West Bengal.

The projects will be developed on a turnkey basis and the scope of work includes the design, engineering, procurement, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning. The successful bidder will also provide operation and maintenance services for a five-year period.

The projects should be completed within 150 days of the award of contract.

West Bengal is positioned somewhere on the lowest rungs of the ladder when it comes to development and expansion of solar. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, the state has an installed solar capacity of just 64 MW. The state also has approximately 46 MW of solar projects in the pipeline.

Considering the size and population of the state, it has not yet managed to attract meaningful investments and attention towards renewables.

Recently,  West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) tendered 2 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects to be developed on customers’ premises in residential, institutional, and social sectors.

In June 2018, WBREDA had retendered a 10 MW grid‑connected solar project to be developed in Bhajanghat in the state’s Nadia district. In March 2018, West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) auctioned a 5 MW, grid-connected floating solar PV project to be developed in the district of Murshidabad.

Image credit: Waree