4 days ago
BMC floats tender to appoint consultant for renewable hybrid energy project at Middle Vaitarna dam
Over five years since the project was conceptualised, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated tenders inviting an independent engineer to consult on its ambitious plan to develop a Renewable Hybrid Energy Project at the Middle Vaitarna dam. Slated to be constructed over a period of 2.5 years, the project is set to generate nearly 80 million units (MU) in energy and save Rs 12.6 crore for the civic body annually. According to officials, the project is now garnering momentum with the civic body likely to receive the Stage-II clearances for the diversion of forest lands over the next two weeks.
In what makes BMC the country's first civic authority to take up the cudgels to construct a hybrid energy project, the plan will encompass construction of two facilities–Hydro Power Plant of 20 MW (megawatts) capacity and 6.5 MW Floating Solar Power Plant (FSPV) of 6.5 MW at the Middle Vaitarna Dam. Together, these projects are estimated to generate 78.2 MU (million units) in energy–of which 66.82 MU will be generated by the hydro-electric plant while 11.30 MU energy will be produced through the floating solar plant.
In the initial phase, the plants are estimated to save the civic body Rs 12.6 crore annually. As the project progresses, the BMC has charted plans to increase the capacity of the plant by accommodating more floating solar panels.
While the project is pegged at a cost of Rs 247 crore, senior BMC officials maintained that the civic body will not be investing any capital expense and instead pay a pre-decided levelised tariff of Rs 4.57/kWh for the course of 25 years after commissioning by the contractor. For the record, the tender for the establishment of the plants has been awarded to Vaitarna Solar Hydro Powergenco Pvt Ltd (VSHPPL).
The power generated from the hybrid energy plants is slated to be utilised through an open access route at the Pise pumping station and Panjrapur WTP complex–which together account for nearly 55-60 percent of Mumbai's potable water supply. The BMC will also construct a transmission line spanning over 13 km from the plant site at Middle Vaitarna Dam, which will connect to the power grid of the MSETCL at the Pise Panjrapur complex.
Even as the tender had been awarded in 2022, construction work is yet to commence as the civic body is currently awaiting key clearances from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF). Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior BMC official said that the approval for the re-diversion of the forest land for the project is in the final leg and likely to be procured over the next 15 days. 'Furthermore, the survey and forest permission activities for the construction of the transmission line are in progress,' said the official.
Amid the project gathering momentum, the civic body on Monday floated a tender to appoint an independent engineer for the development of the project facilities for a period of four years. According to officials, the process of awarding the tender is likely to be concluded by July wherein the agency will be roped in as a project management consultant who will serve as a neutral agency.
