Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) has invited bids for the development of 108 MW of grid-connected solar projects under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) – Component C in five districts of Karnataka. The tender aims to promote solarization of agricultural feeders by deploying renewable energy to support farmers and enhance energy efficiency in the state. Interested bidders must submit their proposals by December 16, 2025, and the bids will be opened the following day.
The projects will be implemented under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model and include the design, supply, survey, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar plants. In addition, the successful bidders will be responsible for operations and maintenance for 25 years from the commercial operation date. A key component of the project is the setup of 22,000 irrigation pump sets along with the required 11 kV line to connect the plants to the respective substations. The projects will also include a remote monitoring system to ensure efficient performance.
HESCOM has already been allotted 22,000 irrigation pump sets out of the 65,000 approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the PM-KUSUM program. Bidders are required to submit a bid security of ₹100,000 per MW and a performance security of an equal amount. The projects must be completed by March 31, 2026, though an extension of up to four months is allowed with penalties for delays. Bidders must propose tariffs below the ceiling rate of ₹2.13 per kWh.
The solar plants must use commercially established crystalline silicon or thin-film modules, listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. The projects are expected to achieve an annual capacity utilization factor of at least 19%. Any power generated above this threshold, up to 10%, will be purchased by HESCOM at 75% of the agreed tariff, while any surplus beyond this will be supplied free of cost.
Land arrangements are the responsibility of the bidders, who may acquire private land or use government land. The Karnataka government allows the Energy Department to allot land under feeder-level solarization at a rate of ₹25,000 per acre, with a 5% escalation every two years.
Eligible bidders must have prior experience in commissioning at least a 1 MW solar project and operating it for at least a year. They are also required to maintain a minimum positive net worth of ₹1.05 crore per MW as of March 31, 2025. The tender encourages the use of proven technologies to ensure timely project completion and minimize risks, contributing to the state’s renewable energy growth and agricultural development.
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