Eight entities, including Crisil, Teri and PwC are in race to become consultant for New and Renewable Energy Ministry for vetting proposals for small hydro projects of up to 25 MW.
“Out of ten technical bids, eight consultants/institutions have qualified for financial bids to become consultant for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,” an official said.
“The financial bids will be opened on July 4 after a brief presentation by qualified bidders. If the rates (service charge) quoted by them are in the same range then we can also appoint more than one consultant for evaluating small hydro project proposals,” the official added.
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The eight bidders are Crisil Infrastructure Advisory, Deeaar Group, Deloitte Touche Tohmastu India LLP, Graphic Era University, MECON, PwC, Protocol Insurance Surveyors & Loss Assessors and The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI).
The engagement of consultant will help speed up implementation of small hydro projects of up to 25 MW.
The Centre has planned to add 5,000 MW small hydro capacity by 2022 as per its plans to boost renewable energy sources in the country.
The estimated potential for power generation from small hydro plants (SHP) is about 20,000 MW. Maximum potential lies in Himalayan states as river-based projects, and in other states on irrigation canals.
The SHP programme is now essentially private investment driven. Projects are normally economically viable and the private sector is showing a lot of interest in investing in such projects.
