Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) has invited bids to commission 3 MW of rooftop solar projects on elevated structures in parking and open spaces at Chennai Metro’s Phase 1 and its extension stations under the RESCO model.

The project should be completed within 18 months of receiving the work order. Selected bidders must also oversee the projects’ operation and maintenance for 25 years.

The project’s estimated cost is ₹200 million (~$2.4 million).

The last day to submit bids is November 6, 2023. Bids will be opened the next day.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹2 million (~$24,042). Selected bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee of 10% of the project cost within 30 days of the work order.

Bidders can propose a capacity within 25% of the total capacity. This variation covers the option to increase capacity at specific locations, decrease capacity at specific locations, or even withdraw the project at a specified location.

They must have completed installing and commissioning a rooftop solar project with a minimum capacity of 2.4 MW in the past ten years.

The total capacity can be a combination of various stations or sites, but only installations with a project size of 100 kW and above will be included in the cumulative calculation.

Bidders must have installed and commissioned a single rooftop solar project with a minimum capacity of 500 kW in the last ten years.

They must have a minimum average annual financial turnover of ₹60 million (~$721,269) during the past five years. Their net worth for at least three of the last five financial years must be positive.

Bidders should possess a net working capital of ₹80 million (~$961,692). If they do not meet this net working capital requirement, they must provide either a line of credit certificate or a liquidity certificate from banks.

A minimum capacity utilization factor of 17% should be maintained for two years and up to 25 years as per standard degradation. Module capacity of less than 540 Wp will not be allowed.

Chennai Metro had issued a tender for 5.74 MW rooftop solar projects at CMRL’s Phase 1 and Phase 1 Extension areas in the city.

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