The Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB) has released the list of empaneled engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors of 100 MW of grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems under the Soura subsidy program.

The state distribution company allotted 88.55 MW out of the total tendered capacity of 100 MW.

The rooftop solar systems will be developed under three categories. The capacity under Category A is 1 kW. For categories B and C, the capacity is above 1 kW to 2 kW and above 2 kW to 3 kW, respectively.

Kondaas Automation won the largest capacity of 30 MW, followed by Suntastic Engineering with 7 MW and Usha Electronic Systems with 5 MW. There were a total of 32 installers empanelled with capacities allotted ranging from 30 MW to 250 kW.

For a complete list of empaneled installers, the allotted capacity, and the price quoted under each category, subscribe to Mercom’s Rooftop Solar Market Report. For the previous quarter’s report, click here.

According to the KSEB official, KSEB released a 100 MW tender exclusively for the 1-3 kW category projects under Phase-II Soura Subsidy Program because of low response from bidders for the 1-3 kW category in its 200 MW rooftop solar tender. It received responses from 34 participants.

For these rooftop solar projects, the subsidy will be based on MNRE benchmark cost. The projects up to 3 kW capacity will get 40% of the benchmark cost as a subsidy. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)’s benchmark cost for a 1 kW rooftop solar system is ₹53,389 (~$713.77). The benchmark costs for 2 kW and 3 kW systems are ₹49,093 (~$656.33) and ₹47,818 (~$639.03), respectively.

In February 2021, KSEB invited bids to empanel EPC contractors to develop 200 MW of grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems in Kerala. After that, The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) asked the state distribution company to take up the issue of the purchase preference for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the 200 MW rooftop tender under the Soura Subsidy Program.

According to Mercom’s India Rooftop Solar Market Report, India installed a record 521 MW of rooftop capacity in the second quarter of 2021. Of this, Kerala accounted for around 14%.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, KSEB has tendered 852 MW of rooftop solar capacity to date.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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