TSEA urges Govt to revise tender conditions of SHG solar project

The State government has decided to allot 1 MW solar plants to SHGs to help them financially

Hyderabad: The Telangana Solar Energy Association (TSEA) has urged the State government to revise the tender conditions formulated for the setting up of 1 MW solar plants by Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the State.

The State government has decided to allot 1 MW solar plants to SHGs to help them financially. Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited (TGREDCO) has recently invited tenders to take up the solar plant installation works.

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TSEA president B Ashok Kumar Goud has urged the TGREDCO to address certain tender conditions that could unintentionally disadvantage local vendors and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), thereby favouring larger, non-local players. TGREDCO-empanelled vendors, who have been active in the rooftop solar sector (up to 1 MW) in Telangana, face challenges with the new tender, he said, adding that the tender’s requirement for ground-mounted solar plants with 11/33 kV connectivity excludes vendors experienced in smaller-scale rooftop projects with LT (400V) terminations.

Stating that Telangana currently lacks a robust policy for solar plants exceeding 1 MW, Ashok Kumar said the gap puts local businesses at a disadvantage, as most vendors lack experience in high-capacity ground-mounted projects, which were now mandatory under the tender conditions.

TGREDCO should revise the tender conditions to align with the capacities and experiences of local MSMEs and empanelled vendors, he said, adding that this would help create more equitable opportunities for Telangana-based businesses.