Government has been planning for the solarization of Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple and the surrounding Konark town. Under this program, the government had planned to set up a 10 MW grid-connected solar project and various solar off-grid applications such as solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks, and off-grid solar power projects with battery storage. Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has released a tender for solar trees, solar street lighting systems, solar drinking water kiosks, electric rickshaws and their charging infrastructure in Konark. OREDA is seeking 50 solar trees, 200 solar street lights, 40 solar-based water kiosks, 20 electric rickshaws, and two charging stations for the rickshaws.
The work includes designing, engineering, installing, testing, and commissioning the products along with operation and maintenance services for them. They have also specified eligibility criteria for each product category. Applicants for the solar trees and street lights must have previously commissioned at least 50 solar trees of various capacities. Bidders interested in supplying the e-rickshaws and their charging infrastructure must have previous experience setting up at least two charging stations for electric vehicles in the country over the last year.
MNRE earlier in a statement had said that the government would provide 100% central financial assistance (CFA) and OREDA would be the implementing agency for this project. They said that for the 10 MW grid connected solar PV project, the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) will be ₹1 crore /MW and the total CFA required is ₹100 crore.
