The Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) has invited bids to solarize 500 HP of grid-connected agricultural pumps under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri KisanUrja Suraksha evamUtthaanMahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) program in Kerala. The developer will be under a rate contract which will have a warranty period of five years from the date of commissioning of the project. The project is estimated to cost Rs 12 million and its supply, installation, and commissioning must be carried out by the developer within one month of the date of the supply order. The tender document specifies that only domestically manufactured solar panels with indigenous solar cells and modules can be used. Further, only crystalline silicon cell PV modules ofat least 325Wp can be used in power projects. Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 50,000 and the deadline for submission of bids is February 23, 2021.
The KUSUM guidelines state that only a joint venture of manufacturers of solar panels or manufacturers of solar water pumps will eligible to take up projects. Additionally, the bidders should have service centres and authorised service providers in all districts of the state.
In November 2020, the MNRE revised the targets of Component C of the PM-KUSUM scheme from the solarisation of 1 million pumps to 1.5 million pumps by 2022. In January 2021, The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited floated a tender to set up grid-connected solar systems for agricultural consumers under Component C of the PM KUSUM scheme. As per the tender document, 700 pumps are to be solarised across the districts of Hooghly, Purba-Burdwan, and Birbhum districts.