The Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JVVNL) has floated a tender for developing 113.2 MW grid-connected solar projects through the RESCO model under Component ‘C’ of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) program for feeder solarization.

The last date for submission of bids is February 13, 2023. Bids will be opened on February 15.

The project’s estimated cost is ₹35 million (~$430,048)/MW.

The successful bidder will be eligible for central finance assistance (CFA) at 30% of the estimated installation cost, which is ₹10.5 million (~$123,553)/MW, as per program guidelines issued by MNRE.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹700,000 (~$8,602)/MW, and the successful bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee (PBG) of ₹500,000 (~$6,143)/MW.

A power purchase agreement for a period of 25 years, at the levelized tariff approved by the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC), is to be executed between the selected bidder and Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (RUVNL) within seven days of submission of PBG.

JVVNL, through the tender, aims to install 43 solar projects of various capacities across 139 11kV feeders.

The projects must be commissioned within nine months from the date of signing of the power purchase agreement.

The developers are required to connect the projects with an 11 kV substation as the delivery point for projects up to 2.55 MW and to 33 kV substations for projects above 2.55 MW.

The bidder will also have to provide a remote monitoring system and operation and maintenance (O&M) of the projects for 25 years.

The selected bidder will have to ensure a minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 17%.

CUF in a year will be calculated as the ratio of the output of the solar power project in a year versus the installed project capacity.

The bidder can either be the sole bidder or a joint venture (JV) of up to two members. A bidder can submit a bid for one or more than one solar projects listed in the bid document.

For landowners, farmers any individual with/without required land for the project, an undertaking certifying having ownership of assets – movable and immovable – worth at least 20% or ₹7 million (~$86,053) of the total cost of the quoted capacity by the bidder, has to be submitted.

An additional undertaking of having access to adequate financial tie-up with lending institutions, banks, etc., for setting up the quoted capacity has to be furnished.

In the case of individuals or firms, the bidder should have a minimum annual average turnover of ₹10.5 million (~$123,553) during the last three financial years.

The solar power generator will be required to use models and manufacturers included in the latest Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

Recently, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVNL) invited bids to develop approximately 1,110 MW of grid-connected solar projects under component C of the PM KUSUM program for feeder solarization.

Earlier, TP Central Odisha Distribution (TPCODL) invited bids to install and commission 180 MW of solar power projects for the solarization of 40,000 agricultural pumps in the state.

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