Odisha Plans To Boost Solar-Based Cold Storages, Issues Tender

Odisha Plans To Boost Solar-Based Cold Storages, Issues Tender. Photo by-freepik

The Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has issued a tender seeking developers to commence 38 solar cold storages in different parts of the state. As per the tender details, each solar-powered cold storage should have a capacity of around 10 Metric Tonnes (MT). 

OREDA asked the interested parties to submit their bids online by December 20 and the physical copies by December 21, 2023. The state nodal agency will open the technical bids on December 22. However, it has not notified the data of opening the price bids for the tender. 

 “The tender is meant to promote the use of solar energy and for providing incremental income sources to farmers in the state; OREDA has planned to install solar-powered cold storage. It will benefit the farmers by providing them increased self-life and value of the crops, which will lead to increased income for the farmers,” the tender document said.

The agency said this solar-powered cold storage will be grid-connected with multi-chamber solar cold storage. The state agency said that the move is likely to increase the shelf life of crops, increase the value of the crops, provide infrastructure for incremental income to the farmers, and reduce the wastage of crops, among others. 

OREDA also said that the developers would also have to ensure the operations and maintenance (O&M) for the initial five-year period from the date of installation of these projects. It also mandates that the bidder must have a valid test certificate from either an MNRE- or NABL-accredited test laboratory. 

The Odisha government agency naked the bidder to ensure transportation of the system to the site, installation, and commission on the field of beneficiaries. 

“The Successful Bidder shall also undertake Corrective Maintenance and Breakdown Maintenance as and when required upon receipt of service request from CRC or OREDA or Department raised through ReSolve Mobile App or any other medium as suggested by OREDA or Department from time to time. Such service request shall be resolved and made functional within a maximum period of seven (7) days from the date of such service request raised through ReSolve Mobile App, failing which might restrict the Successful Bidder in participating in the future opportunities of OREDA, subject to the final decision at the discretion of OREDA only,” the tender read.