The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has issued a tender to procure 200 MW of wind power on a long-term basis from intra-state wind power projects.

The power procured from the wind projects would help MSEDCL fulfill its non-solar renewable purchase obligation. The last date for the submission of bids is January 22, 2020, and the ceiling tariff for the projects is ₹2.52 (~$0.04)/kWh. Interested bidders need to pay a sum of ₹500,000 (~$6,989)/MW as the earnest money deposit (EMD).

The intra-state projects which are already supplying power to MSEDCL under the existing energy purchase agreements (EPA), which have expired or are going to expire on or before March 31, 2020, will be eligible to participate in the bidding process.

MSEDCL will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the bidders for eight years from the date of the execution of the PPA or the date of expiry of the EPA for the existing wind power projects.

Wind power projects having an individual size of at least 0.50 MW at one site will be eligible for this tender. The successful bidders are required to sign PPA with MSEDCL within one month after the date of the issue of the LoA.

It will be the responsibility of the successful bidder to seek all approvals, permits, and clearances required for operating the project. Further, the bidder will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the transmission and distribution network up to the delivery point.

Only wind turbine models listed in the Revised List of Models and Manufactures (RLMM) should be used in the projects. The bidder must install the complete system for real-time data visibility within six months of the execution of the power purchase agreement (PPA) with MSEDCL.

According to MSEDCL, the wind power generator will be allowed to repower the projects for a maximum period of six months during the entire PPA term of eight years. The generator will not be in default for the non-supply of power during this period of repowering.

Earlier this year, MSSEDCL had received the approval from the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for deviations in the standard bidding document for the long-term procurement of 500 MW of wind power. The approval was sought for wind projects for which the energy purchase agreements (EPAs) had expired or are about to expire in FY 2019-20.

Recently, the state issued an order approving the procurement of 7 MW of wind power at a tariff of ₹2.52 (~$0.04)/kWh.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.