JDVVNL Launches Solar Power Tender under PM-KUSUM Scheme to Solarise Agricultural Consumers

Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (JDVVNL) has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) for Solar Power Generators (SPG) under the PM-KUSUM Scheme, Component C (Feeder Level Solarisation), aiming to solarise agricultural consumers connected to 11 kV feeders in various grid substations.
 
The project involves the design, survey, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected solar power plants, along with associated 33 kV or 11 kV lines to connect the plants to the substations.The project will also include the installation of a Remote Monitoring System (RMS) to ensure efficient monitoring of solar power plants, in line with the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model.
 
 The plants must be commissioned within nine months of the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA), and the operation and maintenance period will extend for 25 years. The selection will be based on the lowest quoted levelised tariff following successful negotiations.
 
The selected solar power plants will use commercially established solar PV technologies, including crystalline silicon, thin film, or CPV, with or without trackers. A minimum guaranteed capacity utilisation factor (CUF) of 19 percent annually is required, calculated from April 1st to March 31st each year. The tender follows a single-stage, two-part bidding process, with both technical and financial bids to be submitted online via the portal.
 
Bidders must submit their bids by January 16, 2025, with physical submission of documents like the bid security and tender cost due by January 17, 2025. The cost of the tender document is INR 11,800 (inclusive of GST), and the RISL processing fee is INR 2,950 (inclusive of GST). A bid security of INR 1 lakh per MW is required. The estimated project cost is INR 3.5 crore per MWp of bidded capacity. The selected bidder must submit a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of INR 5 lakh per MW within one month of receiving the work order.
 
The Scope of Work for the Solar Power Generator (SPG) under this Request for Selection (RfS) encompasses several key responsibilities. The SPG must first conduct a detailed site survey and execute a 26-year land lease agreement with the landowner or farmer, with a nine-month commissioning period. JDVVNL will not be responsible for resolving disputes between the landowner/farmer and the SPG.
 
The SPG is then required to design, supply, and install the solar power plant near the concerned 33/11 kV substation, in compliance with MNRE guidelines. The SPG must also supply and erect the associated 33 kV or 11 kV lines connecting the plant to the substation, including the bay, breakers, and metering systems. Testing and commissioning of the solar plant and associated 33/11 kV lines must be completed by the SPG, with JDVVNL officials involved. Additionally, the SPG is responsible for constructing any civil works, such as a control room, necessary for the commissioning of the project.
 
 The solar power plant and associated lines must be operated and maintained by the SPG for 25 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD), unless extended by mutual agreement. The SPG will also inject power at the awarded levelised tariff for 25 years, with the delivery point for plants up to 2.55 MWp being on the 11 kV side and for plants above 2.55 MWp, on the 33 kV side. 

The SPG is solely responsible for land identification, procurement, and project development. Failure to arrange the necessary land after successful bidding will result in the forfeiture of the bid security, and further actions will be taken as per the RTPP Act.
 
The SPG must use only indigenously manufactured solar panels and solar cells, with inspections to ensure compliance with domestic manufacturing requirements. Additionally, the SPG is responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, permits, and clearances for the project, including from local authorities. All components used must comply with applicable BIS and MNRE specifications, and quality control guidelines set by MNRE must be followed throughout the project.
 
The qualification requirements for bidders include both technical and financial criteria. For the technical criteria, bidders must submit an undertaking on non-judicial stamp paper (INR 500) confirming the availability of clear title land for the quoted capacity. For financial criteria, landowners, farmers, and cooperatives must certify asset ownership amounting to at least 20 percent of the total project cost and demonstrate access to financial tie-ups for the quoted capacity. Other firms must have a minimum annual average turnover (MAAT) of 30 percent of the total project cost over the last three years. Joint ventures are allowed, with one partner designated as the lead, and both partners must collectively meet the minimum qualifications.
 
This project plays a vital role in JDVVNL’s efforts to boost renewable energy capacity and support the agricultural sector under the KUSUM Scheme, further contributing to India’s renewable energy targets.