Indian Public Agencies Seeking Solar Panels & Land For PV

• SECI has opened a tender to seek domestically manufactured solar modules 
• The 400 MW capacity sought needs to have domestically produced solar cells 
• SJVN too has launched a tender to seek land for a 200 MW solar power plant in Assam 

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has launched a tender seeking the supply of a total 400 MW domestically manufactured solar PV modules, under domestic content requirement (DCR) norms. Another public enterprise SJVN Limited has also opened a competitive bidding to secure land for a 200 MW solar power plant in Assam. 

SECI tender 

Both the monocrystalline silicon cells and modules sought under the DCR category by SECI need to be manufactured within India, with modules sourced from manufacturers listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). 

Suppliers are mandated to submit a certificate from the module and the cell manufacturer to the solar power developer (SPD) regarding meeting domestic content requirement (DCR) norms under CPSU Scheme Phase II.  

The total capacity is divided into 4 packages of 100 MW each. Interested bidders are required to quote in equivalent capacity of the package, for instance 100 MW for package 1, 200 MW for package 2, and the like. No random intermediary package capacities will be entertained.  

Modules to be supplied need to have a minimum efficiency of 21% and 540 W output. Their temperature coefficient should not be less than -.40%/°C and maximum system voltage 1500 V. 

For glass/polymer modules, glass thickness must be a minimum of 3.2 mm, and for glass-glass modules, it should be a minimum of 2 mm thickness on each side. In both cases, the glass should have a transmittance of above 90%. The backsheet used should incorporate a 3-layered structure, enough to withstand humid/hot conditions. 

Modules should come with a performance warranty of 25 years at least, and a product warranty of 10 years. 

The owner reserves the right to increase or decrease the quoted module capacity by ±10% at the time of placing the order without changing the price and other terms and conditions. 

Broad scope of work for the winning bidders spans manufacturing, testing, packing and forwarding, supply and transportation of the capacity sought. The location of the project site for module delivery may be on a PAN India basis.  

The tender was launched on December 2, 2023 with the last date for submissions being December 23, 2023. 

SJVN tender 

SJVN subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) has opened bids to purchase/lease up to 1,000 acres of land for a period of 28 years in Assam to host a 200 MW solar power plant. 

Interested bidders may offer multiple land parcels up to a cumulative area of 1,400 acres, but a single land parcel should either have 200 acres or be in multiples of 200 acres, with a maximum of up to 1,000 acres. 

According to the tender terms, the nearest part of the land offered must not be at an aerial distance of more than 15 km from the STU Grid Sub-Station (GSS) with minimum Estimated Spare Capacity (ESC) of 200 MW for 1000 acres, 160 MW for 800 acres of land, 120 MW for 600 acres of land, 80 MW for 400 acres of land, and 40 MW for 200 acres of land. 

SJVN announced the tender on December 1, 2023 and will accept bids till December 26, 2023. Details are available on its website.