India : Solar Module & Power Procurement Tenders

• HPCL has launched a tender seeking interested module supply vendors to empanel with the company  
• It also wants to empanel vendors to set up 500 MW solar PV capacity within the country on turnkey basis and also provide O&M services  
• PSPCL in Punjab has also issued a call to select bidders for 500 MW solar power supply to the utility  

State-owned oil and gas refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has launched 2 separate tenders of 500 MW each for the empanelment of suppliers for solar PV modules and empanelment of EPC-cum-O&M contractors. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is also looking for bidders for 500 MW solar power supply.  

The expression of interest (EOI) by HPCL is aimed at empaneling vendors for bulk procurement of solar panels for supply to projects across India that the company plans to build as part of its target to set up 10 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. The empanelment duration is 2 years.  

HPCL said it intends to procure solar modules directly from domestic and global suppliers in the near future for all the projects it wins via competitive bidding processes. Hence, the call is open to all interested suppliers to get enlisted with the refiner.  

Modules sought by HPCL should have a minimum voltage of 1,500V DC and module efficiency of 20% with multi-busbar cells. Proposed minimum capacity of solar modules should be 540W.  

HPCL also wants to empanel EPC contractors who can also provide O&M services for solar power projects on behalf of the refiner. Projects are meant to be deployed across India on a turnkey basis in the form of grid-connected ground mounted and/or floating PV projects with 3 years of comprehensive O&M.   

 Vendors will be empaneled under 3 project capacity categories of less than or equal to 100 MW, above 100 MW to 500 MW, and above 500 MW. Selected companies can apply for one or more categories and will be empaneled for 2 years.  

Call to empanel vendors for both the tenders was issued by HPCL on August 2, 2023, with last date to submit bids being August 23, 2023. Details will be available on HPCL's website.     

PSPCL's 500 MW tender seeks bidders to supply power from a total of 500 MW solar capacity in the state of Punjab. Projects can either be ground mounted or floating PV facilities with 2 MW installed capacity and above. All of these need to be connected to grid. Bids have been capped at INR 2.75 ($0.033)/kWh.  

 Winners will enter power purchase agreements (PPA) with PSPCL for a period of 25 years.  

According to the request for selection (RFS) No. 47/PSPCL/IPC/SOLAR/ 500 MW/2023/ET-7 launched on August 2, 2023, the last date to submit bids online is September 12, 2023.