Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has floated a tender for the manufacture and supply of about 32 MW of crystalline photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The modules would be exported to Djermaya in the African nation of Chad.

The government enterprise said that an earnest money deposit (EMD) was not required for this tender. It expects all 32,102 kW of modules to be delivered by April 31, 2021. The last date for the submission of bids is October 26, 2020.

The tender documents specified that only Indian module manufacturers with a minimum module manufacturing capacity of 120 MW per year can place bids. Vendors are expected to provide a 10-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty for the modules.

It said that the modules could be made with either monocrystalline or multicrystalline modules and must have 72 cells in a 12×6 configuration. However, vendors are permitted to quote only one type of solar module. Preference will be given to modules made in India. The evaluation currency for the tender will be Indian Rupees.

The power output must be 340W and above in a 5W band. The modules are expected to work properly in environments with relative humidity ranging between 15% and 95% and with temperatures between -10°C and 80°C.

Back in July, the Private Infrastructure Development Group floated a request for proposal for the selection of an owner’s engineer contract for a 32 MW solar power project in the African country of Chad. The project is the first phase of the planned 60 MW Djermaya solar project. Back in 2018, a consortium, including InfraCo Africa and Smart Energies International, had come together to develop the 60 MW solar project in the country.

BHEL was selected as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance contractor for the project. BHEL will build the Djermaya 32 MW project, as well as the battery energy storage system, the transmission line, and an extension of the Lamadji substation on a turnkey basis. BHEL would also provide the solar modules to be used in the project.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, BHEL has so far floated 14 tenders, including tenders for PV cells, the balance of system components, and floatation platforms since 2019. In June, it invited bids to manufacture and supply 12 million solar cells.

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