Maharashtra Tenders for Solar Projects Worth 1.35 GW Across 30 Districts

MSEDCL has issued a tender for the development of 1.35 GW of solar PV projects across 30 districts of Maharashtra under the AG feeder program

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has issued a tender, inviting bids from eligible bidders for the development of 1.35 GW of solar PV projects across 30 districts of the state.

The scope of work for the selected bidders will include the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar power projects which will be developed under the Mukhyamantri Solar AG feeder program, which aims at providing clean and abundant day time power to agricultural consumers in the state. The successful bidders will also be required to arrange transmission and distribution network up to the delivery points, and payment of the open access charges.

The last date for bid submission is September 21, 2019, and each bidder must submit an Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 5 lakh per MW of bid capacity.

According to the tender documents, projects of 50 MW capacity each will be developed in 24 districts or circles and 25 MW each across six districts or circles. The projects are going to be selected for an aggregate capacity of 50 MW or 25 MW depending on the districts.

Some of the districts which have a 50 MW limit are Pune, Solapur, Baramati, Aurangabad, Nashik, Malegaon, Nagpur and Amravati. The six districts with a 25 MW limit are Washim, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Bhandara and Wardha, all of which are in the Vidarbha region.

The minimum individual project capacity to be developed per district or circle shall be 2 MW. The maximum individual project capacity to be developed per district or circle is 10 MW. And bidders must adhere to these conditions while submission of the bids. Successful bidders will sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with MSEDCL for a period of 25 years. The maximum payable (ceiling) tariff as per the tender has been fixed at Rs 3.15/kWh by MSEDCL.

Project developers upon signing of the PPA with the MSEDCL will have a period of 18 months to complete the work on the projects.

In July, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) had issued an NIT for the deployment of 137 MW of solar power projects in three districts of the state. The three projects will be developed as:

• A 60 MW solar project in Sindala, Latur District
• A 25 MW solar project in the Dhule District
• A 52 MW solar project in close proximity of dour thermal power stations in Bhusawal, Koradi, Nashik and Parli.