NTPC Renewable Energy, a fully owned subsidiary of NTPC, has released a bid invitation to hire consultants who will assess the potential of floating solar power capacities in various states and union territories (UTs) across India.

The chosen consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive study on the floating solar potential (FSPV) in specific states, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar, and Maharashtra.

The scope of work entails collecting data and satellite imagery of reservoirs and evaluating the feasibility of implementing floating solar power projects.

The consultant's tasks include identifying all significant reservoirs within each designated state, gathering relevant data from state authorities, conducting assessments of FSPV potential, and performing power evacuation studies.

Furthermore, the consultant must rank the FSPV projects based on their economic viability.

The deadline for bid submission is July 4, 2023, and bids will be opened on July 6, two days later.

Interested bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 500,000 ($6,064).

Upon winning the contract, the successful bidder must provide a performance bank guarantee (PBG) amounting to 10% of the total contract price within 15 days of receiving the award letter.

To be eligible, consulting agencies should have prior experience in handling consulting assignments related to floating solar projects in India or globally within the last seven years. Each assignment should have involved a minimum installed capacity of 10 MW, and the agency should have executed a detailed project report (DPR) for solar power projects with a capacity of 50 MW or more.

The consulting team should consist of at least three members who will be dedicated full-time to the project.

The team should possess a combined industry experience of at least 30 years, including expertise in floating solar photovoltaics (FSPV), hydrology/hydrographic studies, environmental assessments, and cost engineering.

Recently, NTPC Renewable Energy also invited bids for the supply of solar modules for three solar projects: Shajapur Solar Project (458.25 MW), Bhuj Solar Project (375 MW), and Bhadla Solar Project (625 MW).

In November of the previous year, NTPC Renewable Energy had called for bids for the supply of solar modules for 325 MW of solar projects in Shajapur Solar Park, located in Madhya Pradesh.