Omkareshwar Floating Solar: RUMSL Invites Bids for Phase 2 of 300 MW

Following the successful conclusion of it’s phase I tender for 300 MW, Rewa Ultra Mega Solar (RUMSL) has initiated proceedings for phase 2. The plans for 600 MW  floating solar power project in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar Reservoir seem to be progressing well to make it among the largest floating solar projects worldwide in time. This comes even as NTPC has also commissioned the final part of its 100 MW floating solar project at Ramagundam, maing it by far the largest in India for now. With better domestic availability of the specialised equipment needed for floating solar plants, the odds of successful projects have improved significantly at competitive rates, unlike say, 2 years back.

RUMSL is a JV of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN).

According to the notification, the submissions of the bids could be made by September 26, 2022 and the bids opening will take place on September 27, 2022. The solar power project is planned by RUMSL in two phases and there will be a total of six independent floating solar PV plants on the reservoir. These all will be grid connected.

Each of the units will be of 100 MW; hence the total capacity would come to be 600 MW. The request for proposal (RFP) made by RUMSL is for units A, B and C under Phase-II that will together make 300 MW (3X100 MW). Phase 1 saw LOA’s being awarded early this month. The lowest bid received was Rs 3.21 for that phase.

Qualifications Required

As per RUMSL, a bidder can a bidder can quote a minimum quantity of 90 MW per category. The notification holds that the bidders need to furnish a bid security for Rs 9 crore when qualification for one unit is sought. They would have to submit Rs 18 crore if qualifications for more than one unit is sought.

It has been notified that power produced from the solar power units will be purchased by the Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company (MPPMCL). It will be done under the provisions of the power purchase agreement (PPA) that the procurer will sign with the power generators at the floating plants for a period of 25 years.

RUMSL is mandated to create power evacuation infrastructure that will help interconnection of units and evacuation of power. In the Phase-I auctions, RUMSL had declared Amp Energy, NHDC, and SJVN as winners for the 300 MW floating solar park on the same reservoir.