West Central Railways Bids Invite Rooftop Solar in Rajasthan

West Central Railways' Kota Division has requested proposals for state-by-state empanelment of agencies to develop grid-connected rooftop solar projects with a capacity of 4.19 MW at its yards and workshops via public-private partnership and on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

Above 3 kW and up to 10 kW, above 10 kW and up to 100 kW, and above 100 kW and up to 500 kW capacity ranges would be created. Bidders may submit bids for one or all of the capacity. Within 240 days of receiving the work order, the projects must be commissioned. In addition, the developers must provide full operation and maintenance services for a period of 25 years. The deadline for bids is November 22, 2023. Bids will be accepted and opened on the same day.

Bidders must submit a deposit of $1.07 million ($12,851) per MW of quoted capacity. Within 30 days of signing the power purchase agreement, the successful bidders must submit a performance security of 1.6 million ($19,217)/MW.

The empanelment will be effective for one year, with a one-year extension possible based on the developer's performance and requests from zonal railways. The solar energy generated will be used only by the Indian Railways via the net metering system.

Bidders must have installed at least 200 kW of grid-connected solar rooftop systems as a developer or engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm. Bids can also be submitted by those who have expertise installing and commissioning a minimum aggregate 1 MW capacity of any grid-connected systems as a developer or an EPC contractor in any sector such as residential, social, industrial, commercial, government, or any other client.

Bidders must have had a three-year average annual turnover of $15 million ($180,160). They should also have had a positive net worth during the previous three fiscal years. After obtaining the letter of award, the selected bidder must enter into a 25-year PPA with the Railways, which may also need to be signed at the divisional level if necessary by the public utilities or Zonal Railways.

The projects established through the tender will not get any central funding. Only locally manufactured modules from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers may be utilized in the projects.

North Central Railways has requested bids for state-by-state empanelment of agencies to build 5.5 MW grid-connected rooftop solar power projects.

News by Rahul Yelligetti