The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has floated a tender for 220 MW of grid-connected solar power projects of 1 MW, 1.5 MW, or 2 MW capacity. The projects will be installed under Component-A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program. Under Component A of the program, the target is to build 10 GW of decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected solar plants, each having a capacity of up to 2 MW. Interested farmers, groups of farmers, panchayats, cooperatives, farmer producer organisations, and water user associations can apply for the tender. The bid submission deadline is October 25, 2021.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission will acquire the solar energy generated by the plants at a predetermined levelised tariff of Rs. 2.75 per kWh for a period of 25 years. If the total aggregate capacity of eligible applications received for a given 66 kV sub-station exceeds the capacity notified for connectivity at that sub-station, a reverse e-competitive bidding (discount on pre-fixed levelled tariff of Rs 2.75 per kWh) will be used to select solar power generators, with allocation based on the lowest tariff offered in ascending order until the target capacity is reached.
Earlier this year, PEDA floated a tender for the installation and commissioning of 243 grid-connected rooftop solar systems with a capacity of 5 kW each, totalling 1.215 MW, at government schools and district institutes of education and training across Punjab. The scope of work comprised the design, manufacture, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning as well as providing a five-year warranty on the project. It would also cover the operation and maintenance of rooftop systems for five years, covering wear and tear, overhauling, machine failure, and replacement of defective modules, invertors, spares, consumables, and other parts. The allocated work must be completed within 100 days from the date of issuance of the work order.
