The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for the selection of solar power developers to establish 30 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This project will be executed under RESCO mode through tariff-based competitive bidding, as outlined in the Request for Selection (RfS) document released on September 13, 2024.
Developers interested in participating in this project must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹9.90 lakh per MW of quoted capacity. For the entire 30 MW project, this results in a total EMD requirement of ₹2.97 crore. This deposit is necessary in the form of a bank guarantee, valid for 12 months from the last date of bid submission (21st October 2024). In addition to the EMD, developers must also provide a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of ₹37.125 lakh per MW, further ensuring compliance with project timelines and obligations.
SECI’s project scope includes setting up grid-connected rooftop solar systems across various government, residential, and commercial buildings in the islands. Developers will handle all aspects of the project, from design and installation to operation and maintenance. These solar projects will interconnect with the local grid, with all necessary permits and approvals, including net metering, to be obtained by the developer.
The bidding process involves a two-stage system, where developers must submit both technical and financial bids. A bid processing fee of ₹6,000, including GST, must be paid, either via NEFT/RTGS or demand draft. Additionally, the selected bidder will be responsible for paying service charges to SECI, calculated at ₹14.85 lakh per MW, covering administrative overheads and other expenses.
The rooftop solar projects are split into three buckets, each corresponding to a different island. Bucket-I consists of South Andaman (Port Blair and nearby islands) with a capacity of 21 MW. Bucket-II covers North and Middle Andaman with a capacity of 7 MW, while Bucket-III targets Nicobar with 2 MW. The final capacity for each building will be finalized during the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) stage, based on site evaluations.
The project has a completion deadline of 12 months from the signing of the PPA, which must occur within 60 days from the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA). Developers are allowed to commission the projects early, although penalties will be imposed for any delays beyond the scheduled commissioning date. Failure to meet the required timelines may result in the encashment of the EMD or PBG and possible cancellation of the project.
SECI is encouraging developers to make use of available fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation and tax holidays, though the availability of these incentives will not affect bid evaluation. Please view the document here for more details.
Discover more from SolarQuarter
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
