India: Solar PV Tenders From NLC India & TPCODL

• NLC India has issued a call for 300 MW grid connected solar PV capacity to be set up in Rajasthan's Bikaner district
• TPCODL is looking to solarize 40,000 individual water pumps in Odisha with a combined capacity of 180 MW
• The TPCODL tender has been launched under component C of the PM-KUSUM Scheme of India

Indian government owned lignite miner and power generator NLC India Limited is inviting bids for 300 MW grid connected solar PV capacity for Rajasthan, while Odisha discom TP Central Odisha Distribution (TPCODL) wants to have 180 MW solar capacity set up to solarize individual water pumps.

300 MW NLC India tender

The 300 MW grid connected solar power project is to be stationed at Barsingsar in Rajasthan's Bikaner district. Winner of the tender will need to design, test and commission the project along with evacuation system up to the delivery point while also providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 3 years, as per broad scope of work stated in the tender documents.

A virtual pre-bid meeting is scheduled to take place on October 26, 2022. Last date to submit bids is November 11, 2022. Details of the tender are available on NLC's website.

180 MW TPCODL tender

A joint venture (JV) between Tata Power and the Governnment of Odisha, TPCODL has launched the 180 MW solar tender for 40,000 pumps under component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme.

Individual/aggregate capacity will be determined after ascertaining the exact capacities of the pumps in HP by respective discoms in Odisha. Currently, it assumes the average capacity of pumps to be 3 HP.

Winners will need to identify farmers, conduct site survey, design, test and commission the grid connected solar power generating system. O&M for 5 years in capex mode is also part of the job description. Entire project is expected to be commissioned within 6 months from the date of issuance of the letter of award (LOA).

Last date to submit bids online is October 31, 2022, as per the call.   

The PM-KUSUM is a flagship scheme of the Government of India through which it targets to install 30.8 GW of solar PV capacity under 3 components. Component C under which the 180 MW TPCODL tender has been issued aims to solarize 1.5 million grid connected solar powered agricultural pumps by individual farmers with each having 7.5 HP, with a target capacity of 11.2 GW (see MNRE Revises Solar Target Under PM-KUSUM Scheme).