Rajkot: Paschim Gujarat Vij Company (PGVCL) is seeking proposals for the development of 921 MW of solar projects to convert 11 kV feeders of selected 66/11 kV substations of PGVCL into solar ones, under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

The successful bidder will be responsible for the project’s maintenance and operation for 25 years.

The deadline for submitting bids online is March 17, 2023, and the earnest money deposit required is ₹100,000 (~$1,206)/MW of the quoted capacity. The successful bidder must submit ₹500,000 (~$6,029)/MW as a performance bank guarantee within seven days from the date of the issuance of the letter of award.

The solar power producer who wins the bid will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with PGVCL for 25 years, and the project must be completed within nine months from the date of signing the PPA.

The approved list of models and manufacturers released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy must be used for the solar modules. The location of the solar projects will ideally be within a five-kilometer radius of the selected substations to minimize evacuation line costs and losses.

The successful bidder will be eligible to get central financial assistance at 30% of the estimated cost of the project, which comes to ₹10.5 million.