The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has released an engineering procurement construction (EPC) tender for the development of a 5 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Tamil Nadu. The capacity has been tendered on behalf of the V.O Chidambaranar Port Trust, in the city of Tuticorin. The trust will own the project and will use the generated electricity for captive consumption.
The successful bidder will be responsible for providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services for a period of 10 years from the date of commissioning of the project. In addition, the O&M contract maybe extended on mutually agreed terms and conditions for a minimum period of 10 years. The tender guidelines specify that the modules used in the project must be warranted for a minimum time period of 10 years against workmanship and all material and manufacturing defects.
Gradually, various Indian ports are following the footsteps of airports and turning to solar energy to meet their energy needs at lower costs and to lower their carbon emissions. SECI has previously tendered several projects for other port trusts. It tendered a 2 MW project for development at the Haldia dock complex on behalf of the Kolkata Port Trust in January 2017. It had also tendered a 10 MW captive project to be developed at the Paradip Port Trust premises in Odisha.