The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 23 September 2026 to implement grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 76 ICAR institutes in 24 States and Union Territories. The agreement covers an aggregate capacity of 11,109.87 kW, equivalent to approximately 11.1 MW, and projects annual electricity generation of around 1.73 crore units.
Policy and significance
The programme falls under the Government of India's effort to expand rooftop solar installations on public buildings. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued operational guidelines on 3 July 2024 for the solarisation of government buildings under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The guidelines provide a framework for government departments and designated implementation partners to undertake rooftop solar projects on public buildings.
The ICAR initiative applies this framework to agricultural research infrastructure. Its significance lies in bringing solar installations across multiple research institutions under a defined implementation arrangement, linking the deployment of renewable electricity infrastructure with the operational requirements of the institutions that will use it.
ICAR will fund the programme, while RECPDCL, a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited under the Ministry of Power, will serve as the turnkey implementation partner. The agreed scope covers design, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, followed by five years of comprehensive operations and maintenance (O&M). Implementation will be undertaken through RECPDCL's empanelled engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)-cum-O&M agencies.
Five procurement packages
On 1 October 2026, RECPDCL issued a Request for Selection (RfS) for EPC-cum-O&M agencies to establish grid-connected rooftop solar systems at the 76 institutes. The tender was published under GeM bid number GEM/2026/B/8107512.
The tender divides the 76 institutes into five procurement packages. The first package covers 11 institutes, the second covers 14, and the remaining three cover 17 institutes each. The proposed capacities are 2,106 kW, 2,088 kW, 2,244 kW, 2,187 kW and 2,285 kW, respectively. Together, these schedules account for 76 institutes and a tendered capacity of 10,910 kW.
The estimated procurement value across the five schedules is ₹49.095 crore, including taxes. The individual estimates are ₹9.477 crore for the first schedule, ₹9.396 crore for the second, ₹10.098 crore for the third, ₹9.8415 crore for the fourth and ₹10.2825 crore for the fifth. These figures are the estimates listed in the tender.
Rooftop and equipment specifications
The procurement document describes the buildings as having flat reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roofs. It records a combined shadow-free rooftop area of 159,121 square metres across the five schedules and provides for site visits by prospective bidders.
The specified installations are grid-connected rooftop solar systems without battery storage. The tender includes bifacial solar panels and net metering among its technical requirements. The systems are intended to supply electricity for use by ICAR.
The agreement's projected annual generation of 1.73 crore units is a programme estimate. It describes the expected output from the proposed installations rather than electricity already generated by commissioned systems.
Installation and commissioning
RECPDCL's turnkey scope includes design, engineering, equipment supply, installation, testing and commissioning. These activities form part of the agreed implementation arrangement and are to be undertaken through its empanelled EPC-cum-O&M agencies.
The tender also specifies project-completion reports. This documentation requirement accompanies the installation work and provides for reporting on completed projects. The procurement is divided by schedule, with separate groups of institutes and corresponding capacity allocations listed for each package.
Five-year operations and maintenance
The MoA includes five years of comprehensive O&M following installation and commissioning. RECPDCL will arrange this work through its empanelled EPC-cum-O&M agencies. The tender further requires quarterly comprehensive annual maintenance contract (CAMC) reports.
A corrigendum issued on 11 October 2026 revised the performance bank guarantee requirement to 5% of the final contract price, including GST. The revised provision forms part of the tender's contractual requirements.
The programme brings rooftop solar deployment into the operational framework of ICAR's research infrastructure. Its implementation combines procurement across multiple institutes with installation, commissioning and a defined maintenance period. Delivering the planned capacity will involve translating the common procurement framework into functioning solar installations across the participating institutions.
