The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has announced an extension to the bid submission deadline for a 97.5 MW grid-connected rooftop solar tender for installations on government buildings.

The projects will be implemented under the CAPEX/RESCO model across all states and union territories under a global competitive bidding process.

The last date for bid submission has now been extended to May 21, 2019, from the earlier deadline of March 27, 2019. The techno-commercial bids will open on May 22, 2019.

Mercom had reported about the RfS for these projects which were announced in February 2019. The first category is for 10 MW under CAPEX model (Part-A), the second is 85 MW consisting of RESCO model (Part-B), and third is 2.5 MW comprising CAPEX model (Part-C).

Under Part-A, a bidder is eligible to apply for a minimum aggregate capacity of 100 kW and the maximum aggregate capacity of 1 MW. Under Part-B, a bidder can apply for the minimum aggregate bid capacity of 1 MW and a maximum aggregate bid capacity of 10 MW. Any bidder eligible for participation in either Part–A or Part-B, is not allowed to participate in Part- C.

The bidding had been split into two categories – general state category and special state category. Only one price would prevail for all the bidders, the RfS has stipulated.

The size of the projects will be 1 kW to 500 kW under Part-A and Part-B, and 1 kW to 25 kW for Part-C.

The brief scope of work includes the identification and site survey of rooftops, site visit, solar potential assessment, finalization of feasibility report for Identified locations, design, engineering, manufacture, supply, storage, erection, testing, commissioning, submission of project proposals, and ensuring net metering as per the state/ UT policies, Mercom had reported.

The successful bidder will have to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) for a period of 5 years under Part-A and Part-C, for a period of 25 years and under Part-B after commissioning of the project.

The minimum percentage of local content required for solar PV modules is 100 percent, and for the balance of system apart from civil works, it is 40 percent.

The ceiling tariff for general category states and union territories is ₹3.50 ($0.049)/kWh and for special category states and islands is ₹3.50 ($0.049)/kWh.

The incentive from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be available for buildings under central, state, and local governments.

According to Mercom India Research’s Q4 & Annual 2018 India Solar Market Update, rooftop installations in 2018 totaled 1,655 MW a robust 66 percent year-over-year growth. Cumulative rooftop solar installations have reached 3,260 MW and still only make up 12 percent of the total solar installations in the country.

 

Soumik is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, Soumik was a correspondent for UNI, New Delhi covering the Northeast region for seven years. He has also worked as an Asia Correspondent for Washington DC-based Hundred Reporters. He has contributed as a freelancer to several national and international digital publications with a focus on data-based investigative stories on environmental corruption, hydro power projects, energy transition and the circular economy. Soumik is an Economics graduate from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University.