Assam to implement 7 MW of rooftop solar projects on social and institutional buildings

The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has issued a tender for 7 MW of grid-connected solar rooftop projects for social and institutional buildings in the state. The projects will be developed under the RESCO model.

These rooftop projects will be developed under the central financial assistance (CFA) program of the ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Recently, the president of India had approved the launch of the second phase of the grid-connected rooftop solar program in India. Under phase-II, 38 GW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV capacity is expected to be installed. The central government will provide Rs.118.14 billion as CFA for capacity building, service charges and incentives to distribution companies (DISCOMs).

The last date for the submission of bids for this Assam tender is March 28, 2019. The techno-commercial bid will be open on March 29, 2019. The auction is slated to take place on april 8, 2019.

According to the tender document, schools, health institutions, medical colleges and universities will fall under the institutional buildings; whereas community centers, welfare homes, senior citizen homes, and orphanages will come under social sector buildings for the installation of the projects.

Recently, the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of the 70 MW Amguri Solar Park in Sivasagar district. The Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL) had issued a Request for the proposal for the development the grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects in Amguri Solar Park in the state in January 2019.

The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate basis for the procurement of solar power by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for 25 years.

In June 2018, the APDCL had auctioned 85 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be developed across Assam. APDCL had awarded 75 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to Azure Power and 10 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to Maheswari Mining and Energy Pvt. Ltd.