MSEDCL Tenders for 1250 MW Of Solar Under State Scheme

Close on the heels of its tender for vendor empanelment for  200 MW of solar rooftop capacity across the state, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has invited bids to procure 1,250 MW of solar power from projects developed in various districts of Maharashtra. The bids are under the state's own Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (scheme).

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The latest tender sets a ceiling tariff of Rs 3.10 per kWh, with last date for bids set for November 25. A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for November 11. This ceiling tariff is over 10% higher than the previous ceiling tariff of Rs 2.80 it had set for solar projects during an RFS.

The deadline for completion of projects has been set at 12 months from the date of issue of letters of award, since capacities are smaller on this, between 2 MW to a highest possible bid for 10 MW. The projects will need to be designed to deliver energy at the 11/22 kV level to the nearest substation of MSEDCL.

An amount of Rs 100,000 /MW of the quoted capacity will need to be submitted as earnest money deposit (EMD). Performance bank guarantee for successful bidders is Rs 500,000 /MW of the quoted capacity, to be submitted within 30 days of award.

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While MSEDCL will enter into a 25 year PPA with the developers, existing projects without a PPA are also eligible to participate.

The latest tender follows a flurry of tenders from MSEDCL in Maharashtra, covering Hybrid, Solar, Wind. Be it the KUSUM scheme, tenders to meet its renewable purchase obligations, or the states own scheme like this one, the state finally seems back on track to regain a leading slot among renewable energy generators in the country.

A key challenge, despite the higher ceiling tariff will be response on pricing from developers, considering the impact global volatility has had on domestic prices now, which is finally becoming more visible on the ground.