Maharashtra launches 750MW solar tender

A tender for a total capacity of 750 MW in solar photovoltaic projects has been issued by The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO), aiming to cater to the agricultural (AG) feeder load of various substations across the state. The deadline for submissions is July 20, 2018.

MAHAGENCO has provided a green-shoe option in this tender through which any participant bidder can choose to develop another 250 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects at the lowest tariff discovered in the auction. 

The upper tariff ceiling for the tender has been fixed at INR3.25 (US$0.0477)/kWh. A single bidder can bid for the entire capacity tendered,with a minimum project size of 2 MW at a single location. The bidders need to identify the land required for the project within the periphery of 3 kilometers from a substation; additionally they have been provided a list of substations.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the grid-connected solar projects. The project will be designed to deliver energy at 33/11 kV level substation of MSEDCL.

Evacuation arrangements to the nearest substation will be provided by SPD; and O&M of this evacuation system for 25 years will be the responsibility of the SPD.

MAHAGENCO will enter 25-year PPA with the successful bidder, and will further sell the power to MSEDCL. 

MAHAGENCO stated:

“The PV modules must qualify to the latest edition of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell Modules IEC 61215, Thin Film Modules IEC 61646, or Concentrator PV modules IEC 62108 standards. PV modules must also qualify to IEC 61730 for safety qualification testing @1000 V DC or higher. For the PV modules to be used in a highly corrosive atmosphere throughout their lifetime, they must qualify to IEC 61701.”