Coal India Limited (CIL), the state-owned coal producer, has launched a tender, inviting EPC contractors for an 875 MW AC grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plant in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.  

This capacity is a part of the 2 GW solar park that Rajasthan Vidyut Urja Nigam Limited (RVUNL) is developing in the sub-district of Pugal to secure power to meet the state’s growing energy demands.  

According to the call issued, the broad scope of work involves the design and engineering, procurement, testing, civil works, permits, licenses, installation, and commissioning of the 875 MW AC capacity. Project commissioning will need to be accomplished within 24 months from the date of commencement of work. 

The winner will also be required to provide 2 years of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) for the project from the date of commissioning.  

Selected contractors will need to procure a minimum of 1,182 MW of crystalline silicon solar PV module capacity, excluding mandatory spares. All modules to be used need to be sourced from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I, which uses solar cells from companies enlisted in ALMM List-II. 

CIL launched the tender on July 22, 2025. It will accept bids till August 12, 2025. Further details are available on CIL’s e-procurement website under tender ID 2025_CILHQ_340005_1. 

For CIL, this capacity is part of its plans to develop 5 GW of renewable energy projects on land available to its subsidiaries, and in states with solar potential, by FY 2028-29. With RVUNL, it formed a joint venture in 2024 to explore the possibility of establishing 4.1 GW solar PV capacity at existing thermal power plants, wind projects, pumped storage, and pit-head thermal power sites (see India Solar PV News Snippets).