The largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company in India, GAIL (India) Limited has revealed plans to venture into PV manufacturing with a vertically integrated project in collaboration with an unidentified partner for which it is now on the lookout for a consultant.
The duo plan to establish an integrated solar manufacturing project comprising metallurgical grade silicon, polysilicon, ingot/wafers, cells, modules and solar glass in India through a special project vehicle (SPV). GAIL may acquire suitable equity share in the SPV.
According to the call issued, GAIL wants the consultant to provide an overview of the global and Indian solar manufacturing value chain market potential. The selected vendor will assess the impact of addition of global and domestic capacity in each segment of entire value chain over the next 5 years to 10 years.
The market research will cover demand-supply, pricing, sale, technology analysis, availability of raw materials and conduct due diligence.
Depending on the outcome of the study, both the partners can seek respective board approval to go ahead with the project.
Launched on April 28, 2023, the last date to submit bids for this tender is May 12, 2023. Further details are available on GAIL's website.
Currently GAIL has diversified into renewable energy, operating a portfolio of 118 MW wind and 14 MW of solar. The move into PV manufacturing is an attempt to further reduce the company's carbon footprint and expand its presence in renewables, it added.
GAIL's move into solar manufacturing follows another Government of India enterprise and one of the world's largest coal producers Coal India Limited announcing plans to establish 4 GW ingot to module manufacturing capacity in India (see CIL Launches RFQ For 4 GW PV Manufacturing).
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