USolar Clean Energy Solutions has emerged as the lowest bidder for the 20 megawatt (MW) floating solar photovoltaic project to be developed at Maroda Reservoir-2 in Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh. The project was floated by NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited, a joint venture between NTPC and Steel Authority of India Limited, through a domestic competitive bidding process under a single-stage, two-envelope system.

USolar submitted a financial bid of Rs 1,274.7 million (mn), but bidder ranking was based on the lowest cost per unit of estimated annual electricity generation expressed as Rs per million (mn) units (MU). Based on that evaluation method USolar secured the top position with an evaluated rate of Rs 29.0 mn per MU supported by an estimated annual generation of 43.90 MU.

InSolare Energy Limited was ranked second with a financial bid of Rs 1,348.8 mn and an evaluated rate of Rs 29.6 mn per MU with estimated annual generation of 45.54 MU. SLNKO Energy Private Limited was third with a bid of Rs 1,383.0 mn at Rs 31.2 mn per MU, while Oriana Power was fourth with Rs 1,377.1 mn at Rs 31.4 mn per MU. Floatex Solar and BVG India Limited followed with bids of Rs 1,391.5 mn and Rs 1,446.1 mn respectively, each evaluated at about Rs 31.7 mn per MU.

The project is scheduled to be completed within one year and the selected contractor will be responsible for engineering, design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the floating solar plant. The scope includes floating platforms, anchoring systems, solar modules and associated civil, electrical and mechanical works together with the 33 kilovolt (kV) underground power evacuation system and a SCADA-based central monitoring arrangement, and the successful bidder will provide operation and maintenance services for three years.