Consultancy Tender for 2 GW Solar Park In Rajasthan from RRVUNL

In a tender issued via a letter dated Dec 29, 2021, the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (RRVUNL) has released a tender seeking consultants to provide consultancy services for the development of a 2000 MW solar park in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. The tender also covers the installation of an 810 MW solar project at Village Ramsar Chotta, Barala, and Bandarewala, Tehsil-Pugal, in Bikaner district.

Thus, the priority is the 810 MW project, following which, the remaining 1.19 GW  will be developed later. The state generator has identified 5,200-hectare government land to locate the park where land acquisition process is on currently. RRVUNL is also the key state agency for executing power projects in the state.

Rajasthan has a declared 30 GW target for solar energy capacity by FY 2024-25 through 24 GW utility scale, 4 GW distributed generation and 1 GW each from solar rooftops and solar pumps. The state has also been successful in attracting some solar manufacturing firms in recent period.

Based on the L1 bid, selected consultants will need to prepare a feasibility report, detailed project report (DPR), prepare bid document to finalize EPC contract and evaluate bid documents for development of solar park.

For the initial 810 MW solar power project, it will also provide engineering services post EPC award of contract, construction site supervision services, and inspection services.

The park will be developed under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme mode-8 in a phased manner. Under mode-8 introduced by the MNRE in June 2020, the CPSU/state PSU/state government organization or their subsidiaries can act as the solar power project developer (SPPD). It mandates the proposed project must be completed within 2 years, with a provision of 1 year extension, failing which the state government may take back the allotted land.

While availability of vast ‘degraded’ or ‘waste land’ and irradiance has long been an advantage for the state, in recent months, projects in the state have hit a stumbling block on environment related issues. First with the area that comes under territory for the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican, and more recently, when Hindustan Salts Limited tried to go for a 4 GW solar project on its lands, located near the Sambhar Salt Lake.