Karnataka Renewable Energy Development (KREDL) has floated bids for the installation and commissioning of grid-connected distributed solar power systems for the solarisation of agricultural feeders covering 75,000 individual pump sets under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) programme. The renewable energy service company (RESCO) model will be deployed for establishing the project. The successful bidder will also be responsible for the development of the associated 11 kV line connecting the projects to the relevant substations and undertake the project’s operation and maintenance for a period of 25 years.
The bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 100,000/MW. In addition, the successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee worth Rs 100,000/MW. The project’s scheduled commercial operation date must be met within nine months of the power purchase agreement’s signing.
The solar power generators will carry out any evacuation assessment study concerning the connectivity of the project to the respective grid substation. KREDL has stated that it will be mandatory to use indigenously manufactured solar modules as per the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The bid submission deadline is February 7, 2023.
Recently in September 2022, the Maharashtra government announced the target of installing 200,000 solar agricultural pumps in the state. According to the target, 100,000 such pumps will be established by the Maharashtra Energy Development Authority. However, the remaining ones will be set up by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
