The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) has floated a tender for the geotechnical investigation and measurement of the soil resistivity at the proposed 200 MW solar park in Dadanpatrabar, Mania &Dakshin Purusottamour under Ramnagar-II block located in Purba Medinipur district.

The estimated cost of this project is ₹2.3 million (~$30,707).

The proposed 200 MW project is divided into two phases – 125 MW in the first phase and 75 MW in the second.

Interested bidders will have to pay a sum of ₹46,000 (~$614) as the earnest money deposit (EMD). The validity of the EMD is for six months from the date of opening of the bids with a claim period of another three months.

The last date for the submission of bids is May 18, 2020. The successful bidder will need to do the field execution by June 12, 2020, and the report should be submitted by June 30, 2020.

The scope of work includes an examination of the soil resistivity in the area following the Wenner Four Electrode Method by keeping inter-electrode spacing 50 meters. Wenner Four Electrode Method is the method used for measuring soil resistivity for electrical grounding purposes.

Further, the successful bidder will also have to ascertain soil parameters through sub-soil investigation at different stretches of 1,032 acres of land.  The scope of sub-soil investigation covers soil investigation and execution of complete soil exploration to construct the sub-station foundations, boundary walls, proposed roads, and embankments at different locations. The scope also includes the study of erosion characteristics at all the locations.

The successful contractor will also have to carry out the task of boring tests at different layers in all kinds of soil. After the completion of the task, he needs to furnish the soil testing report, including the details of the equipment and the method adopted by June 30, 2020.

As far as the qualifying requirements are concerned, the eligible bidders should have done detailed soil investigation work, which includes conducting fields and laboratory tests and submission of reports. The bidder should also have done surveys and soil resistivity tests previously.

In December 2019, Mercom reported that the WBSEDCL had invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) for consultancy services for 200 MW of solar projects in the state to be selected through local competitive bidding. The supervisory work for the consultant was for the 200 MW (125 MW in the first phase and 75 MW in the second) of solar power projects.

Previously, the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission had approved for the investment proposal for 70 MW of solar projects in four districts of the state, including Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura, and Paschim Medinipur.

The state has also approved the development of 20 MW of solar projects in the Birbhum district.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, West Bengal has an installed solar capacity of 94.06 MW as of March 2020, while 64 MW of solar projects are currently under development.

Image credit: ReNew Power