The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is gauging interest from solar PV manufacturers that can supply 1.8 GW DC of India manufactured modules (including cells) during FY 2023-24.
According to the agency, it is in the process of executing projects for 1.2 GW of PV capacity it was awarded under CPSU Scheme II (tranche III) for which it is now planning to procure modules directly from manufacturers. Equipment to be supplied will need to be delivered directly on project site.
Solar PV technology sought is defined as multi crystalline with 17% module efficiency, mono crystalline PERC with 19.5% efficiency and thin-film CdTe with 17.4% efficiency.
Manufacturing companies desirous of making a bid must feature in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM), and their products must bear the Standard Mark as notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
As of December 30, 2021, the MNRE's ALMM list included 41 companies.
Responses to the expression of interest (EOI) will enable SECI to invite bids officially after assessing the availability along with commercial parameters. Interested PV module makers can submit their responses by January 21, 2022, as per the EOI document.
Under the CPSU Scheme Phase II, India aims to develop 12 GW of solar power capacity power from which will be procured for government producers using locally manufactured cells and modules. SECI was replaced as the implementing agency of the scheme in April 2020 by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) (see IREDA Replaces SECI For CPSU Phase-II Solar Scheme).Sol