SECI Tender Invites Bids For 30 MW FSPV On DVC Reservoirs In Jharkhand & WB

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has floated a tender for setting up of grid connected 30 MW Floating Solar PV (FSPV) Plants on raw water reservoirs of Damodar Valley Corporation thermal power plants at Koderma, Mejia and Raghunathpur thermal power stations across Jharkhand and West Bengal. The tender is available online on https://www.bharat-electronictender.com for prospective bidders for whom the last date for online submission is 2 pm on August 1. The bids will be opened same day. Break up of the 30 MW FPSV is: 6MW in Koderma, 10 MW in Mejia and 14 MW in Raghunathpur.

A bidder will have to ensure operation and maintenance of the plant for 10 years. Rs 40.2 million is the earnest money deposit. Only the class 1 suppliers can supply the solar models and the cells for FSPV.

Besides, his average turnover must be Rs 804.3 million in last three financial years. The minimum working capital for a bidder to win the tender is Rs 502.7 million in the last audited statement.

The push for floating solar in Jharkhand and West Bengal, both eastern states with low solar power penetration due to lack of industry as well as waste land, makes eminent sense. The use of reservoirs is the most practical approach to add incremental capacity for now, even as other opportunities like rooftop solar wind their way through the policy quagmire.

In a drive to push the inflow of foreign tourists, SECI had signed an agreement with the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) last month to provide clean electricity to the two cultural centers and key tourist spots of Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. Bihar will be the first state in the country to will provide 24X7 clean and green electricity to two towns. The Power Sales Agreement was for 210 MW of green energy.

The bids were also invited by SECI in April for the selection of battery energy storage system developers for setting up of 1000 MWh (500 MW x 2 hrs) battery energy storage systems in India for “on demand” usage under tariff-based competitive bidding (ESS-I).