SRINAGAR: In a major push towards clean energy adoption in Jammu and Kashmir, NHPC Renewable Energy Limited (NHPC REL) has invited bids to develop 23.33 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar power projects across 279 government buildings in the Union Territory. The projects will be executed under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode, with the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) coordinating implementation.
The tender marks a significant investment, estimated at around Rs 100 crore, and is aimed at enhancing energy self-sufficiency in government infrastructure. The identified buildings belong to departments including Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Jal Shakti, Irrigation & Flood Control, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Home. The projects must be commissioned within nine months of the contract being awarded.
The bid submission deadline has been set for July 16, 2025, with technical bids scheduled to be opened on July 21. The tender has been divided into eight categories, each corresponding to different clusters of buildings and energy needs. The bid document fee is Rs 5,000 for Categories 1, 2 and 3; Rs 1,500 for Categories 4, 5, 7 and 8; and Rs 1,000 for Category 6.
The earnest money deposit (EMD) required also varies, with Rs 32 lakh for Category 1, Rs 50.9 lakh for Category 2, Rs 47.6 lakh for Category 3, Rs 9.91 lakh for Category 4, Rs 12.7 lakh for Category 5, Rs 3.56 lakh for Category 6, Rs 18.5 lakh for Category 7, and Rs 11.6 lakh for Category 8. Successful bidders will also be required to submit performance security of Rs 2,475 per kilowatt.
Bidders must have experience designing, supplying, erecting and commissioning grid-connected solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of at least 400 kW, including at least one project of a minimum of 40 kW. Alternatively, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors with relevant experience in infrastructure or process industry works worth at least Rs 4 crore will also be eligible. Bidders must also have constructed at least one 11 kV substation, including voltage-level circuit breakers and power transformers.
The financial eligibility criteria require a minimum average annual turnover in the last three years ranging from Rs 71 lakh for Category 6 to Rs 13.58 crore for Category 2. All bidders must demonstrate a positive net worth in the past two financial years.
The new tender comes on the heels of similar announcements earlier this year. In January 2025, NHPC issued tenders for 39.73 MW of rooftop solar capacity under the RESCO mode in Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir. In February 2025, JAKEDA issued a separate tender to empanel developers for 175 MW of rooftop solar projects across government buildings in the Union Territory.
