Punjab to Develop 250-Megawatt Solar Power Capacity, Invites Proposal

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--In a bid to partially reduce the state's dependence on fossil-fuel for power generation and to meet its Renewable Power Purchase Obligation, the state government of Punjab has proposed to set up solar power projects with an aggregate capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) in various parts of the Indian state.

State-owned Punjab Renewable Energy Development Agency (PEDA) (Chandigarh, Punjab) has invited Request for Proposal (RfP), under an e-bidding system, for selecting project developers to establish, maintain and operate 250-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the state. The solar power generated by these plants will be procured by state-run utility Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) (Patiala, Punjab), under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA).

As per the RFP issued, the total capacity of solar projects to be selected in three categories, such as, 1 to 4 MW (50 MW), 5 to 24 MW (100 MW) and 25 to 50 MW (100 MW). The projects which are to be taken up under the New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NRSE) Policy will be given waiver on 100% duty of the electricity consumed from state licensee during construction and testing of the projects. Moreover, there will be 100% exemption from entry tax in respect of all supplies made for setting up and trial operations of the projects.

According to PEDA, the bidders will have the choice to select any solar, PV-based power generation technology from the various options like crystalline silicon modules, thin film and concentrated PV modules or any other proven technology, which could be sourced from other countries.

To be eligible to participate in the bid, a bidder should have successfully installed and commissioned at least one grid-connected project with a minimum capacity of 5 MW, which should have been in operation for at least one year. As per the financial criteria set by PEDA, the bidder-firm should have a net worth of $158,000 per MW of the capacity offered. The proposals, along with requisites fees and documents, should be submitted online at www.etender.punjabgovt.gov.in. Submission of Bids is closing at 12 hours Indian Standard Time (IST) on January 28, 2015.

Punjab is endowed with a vast solar energy potential. The state receives a solar irradiance of approximately 5 to 5.5 kilowatt-hour per square-meter per day for more than 300 sunny days. The state government has taken up various initiatives to tap this resource for strengthening renewable power infrastructure in the state by setting up solar energy-based power projects.

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