The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) has launched a call to procure power from a cumulative of 500 MW AC decentralized ground mounted solar power plants in the state of Maharashtra under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme.
Aimed at providing energy security to farmers thereby contributing to their socio-economic upliftment, the PM-KUSUM scheme has 3 components. The MSEDCL tender seeks to establish this capacity under component C through which the overarching target is solarization of 1.5 million grid connected solar powered agricultural pumps with a total installed capacity of 11.2 GW (see MNRE Revises Solar Target Under PM-KUSUM Scheme).
Power generated through feeder level solarization will be consumed for agriculture load at local level to reduce distribution losses.
MSEDCL directs the capacity to be installed through RESCO mode under which the consumer pays for the electricity while the RESCO developer owns the system. The developer will be selected on the basis of lowest tariff offered for the supply of required solar power for 25 years which will be purchased by the discom.
Projects will be expected to be implemented primarily on barren or uncultivable land. Agricultural land can be utilized when the solar array it installed in stilt fashion with adequate space between panel rows. It will allow farmers to continue farming activities on site while generating lease rent.
MSEDCL expects the solar panels to be installed within 5 km radius of sub-stations.
Last date to submit bids is January 24, 2022. Details of the tender are available on MSEDCL's website.
This tender follows MSEDCL's call for 487 MW AC decentralized solar power capacity from projects under PM-KUSUM scheme in August 2021 (see MSEDCL Launches Tender For 487 MW AC Solar Power).
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