Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JDVVNL) has invited expressions of interest for setting up 333.5 MW of solar projects with 11 kV lines and remote monitoring systems under Component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program.

Bidders have until November 29, 2024, to submit their proposals, with the opening of bids scheduled for December 3. A bid security deposit of Rs 100,000 per MW is required. Projects must be commissioned within nine months of receiving the work order, with developers providing 25 years of operation and maintenance services.

The selected bidders will enter a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam at a levelised tariff of Rs 3.04 per kWh. However, Component A of PM KUSUM offers no subsidy or financial support for these solar projects.

Eligible participants include individual farmers, groups, cooperatives, panchayats, farmer producer organisations, and water user associations, with project capacities from 500 kW to 2 MW. Renewable developers can also establish these projects on farmers' behalf.

The projects will utilise the farmers' unused or barren land within a five-kilometre radius of a JDVVNL substation and must use Ministry of New and Renewable Energy-approved solar photovoltaic modules, meeting a minimum capacity utilisation factor of 17%.

In addition to this tender, JDVVNL recently issued three tenders for 494.82 MW of grid-connected solar projects in Churu District Circle under Component C of PM KUSUM.

(Merom)