Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a government undertaking, has invited bids for the supply of 8,352,000 multicrystalline and monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells.

The scope of work includes the supply of 8,316,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB (busbars) 157 mm in dimension and 4.72W, 18,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm² and 4.72W, and 18,000 mono PERC solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm² and 5.62W.

The last date to submit the bids is January 11, 2021. The bids will be opened on the same day.

The bids are restricted to domestic manufacturers, and offers from foreign vendors will not be considered.

Regarding the financial criteria, the bidder’s net worth for the last three financial years should be positive. The bidder’s minimum average annual turnover for the best three years out of the last five years should be ₹2.94 billion (~$40.2 million). The bidder should have liquid assets of not less than ₹490 million (~$6.7 million).

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, BHEL has floated tenders for 30,890,000 solar photovoltaic cells as of December 2020.

Recently, BHEL invited bids for the supply of 6,568,000 multicrystalline and mono PERC solar cells. The scope of work included the supply of 6,480,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB and 157 mm in dimension and 4.72 W, 60,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB of 157 mm and 4.67 W, 10,000 solar cells 5BB of 157 mm and 4.62 W. The tender also included the supply of 14,400 mono PERC solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm2 and 5.62 W, 2,664 mono PERC solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm2 and 5.44 W, and 936 mono PERC solar cells 5BB 158.75 mm2 and 5.27 W. This bid was also restricted to domestic manufacturers.

Earlier, BHEL floated a tender for 18,000 mono PERC solar cells. The cells were to be 158.75 ×158.75 ± 0.5 mm in dimensions and 220 microns thick ± 20 microns. BHEL specified multiple wattages for the cells ranging between 5.7W and 5.22W. They had to be five bus bars in length.

Previously, Mercom reported that BHEL had floated a tender for the supply of 286,000 multicrystalline solar cells. The cells were to be 157×157 ± 1.0mm in dimensions and 220 microns thick ± 20 microns. BHEL specified multiple wattages for the cells ranging between 4.52W and 4.82W. They were to be five bus bars long.