NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of India’s power giant NTPC Limited, has recently announced a major domestic competitive bidding process for an ambitious renewable energy project. The project involves the development of a cumulative 100 MW Agri-PV projects, which combine solar power generation with agricultural activities, offering an innovative approach to optimize land use while promoting clean energy. The initiative is aimed at integrating agriculture with solar power, allowing farmers to benefit from both electricity generation and crop cultivation on the same land.
The bidding process focuses on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) package that encompasses all aspects of project implementation. This includes the acquisition of land, which is a critical component of the project. The selected contractor will be responsible for identifying and arranging land, ensuring proper transfer of title or lease deeds to NGEL or its subsidiaries. The project targets multiple states, including Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, with a requirement that each site should have a minimum capacity of 10 MW.
An expert agency will be hired to manage initial project activities, such as site selection, soil testing, water requirement analysis, and crop selection. The agency will also prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR), design the Agri-PV system, provide Project Management Consultancy (PMC) during construction, and support the onboarding of Farmer Producing Organizations (FPOs). These measures are designed to ensure that the project is technically robust and that agricultural and energy objectives are achieved simultaneously.
The technical scope of the project covers the complete lifecycle of the solar plant. The contractor will handle site grading, clearing vegetation to accommodate crops, and conducting topographical and geotechnical studies. The responsibilities extend to designing, manufacturing, supplying, installing, and commissioning the solar photovoltaic plant, including the supply of PV modules and reactive power compensating devices. Specially designed Module Mounting Structures (MMS) for Agri-PV projects will also be part of the construction, along with transmission systems to connect the solar plants to ISTS or STU substations.
The project also involves extensive civil and electrical works. Internal roads, office buildings, pooling substations, and permanent water supply systems will be constructed to support both solar and agricultural operations. Electrical works include transformers, protection systems, grid compliance studies, switchgear installations, and overhead lines for grid extension. Irrigation networks will be installed to sustain agricultural activities, and a SCADA system will be implemented to allow remote monitoring and control of the solar plants.
In addition to construction, the contractor will be responsible for obtaining all necessary statutory approvals and clearances, including environmental and forest permits. After commissioning, the contract includes comprehensive operation and maintenance for three years, covering both electrical equipment and agricultural activities, as well as the sale of agricultural produce.
Bidding documents for the project will be available from December 29, 2025, through official portals such as nptctender.ntpc.co.in and ngel.in/tender. The invitation for bids was officially issued on December 16, 2025, under IFB No. NGEL-CS-5837 004 (AgriPV)-9. While the abridged document outlines the overall technical and administrative scope, specific details regarding the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) are provided in the full bidding documents available online.
This project by NTPC Green Energy Limited represents a significant step in promoting sustainable energy in India. By combining solar power generation with agriculture, the initiative aims to make efficient use of land resources while supporting farmers and contributing to the country’s renewable energy goals.
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