Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has issued an expression of interest (EoI) for the supply of monocrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules under the domestic content requirement (DCR)  category for an 8 MW solar project in Ebene, Mauritius.

The modules should have a power output between 360 W and 545 W in the 5 W band. Modules must be made from 72 cells in a 12*6 configuration or 144-cell (half-cut) in a 24*6 configuration.

The last date to submit bids is December 28, 2021. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders do not have to furnish any earnest money deposit for this tender.

Bidders must have a module manufacturing capacity of 50 MW annually.

The successful bidder must provide a ten-year warranty for solar modules with a peak output capacity of less than 90% at the end of ten years and 80% at the end of 25 years. The bidder must provide 10% of the contract value as a performance bank guarantee valid for ten years and 90 days.

The modules should have a minimum efficiency of 21% and a minimum fill factor of 70%. They must perform satisfactorily with temperatures between 0° C and 55° C and humidity up to 85% and withstand adverse climate conditions and gust speed of 280 km/hr. Modules should not be damaged during hailstorms of a maximum diameter of 28mm and an impact speed of 86 km/hr.

The glass used in the modules should be a high transmission, low iron, toughened with a minimum thickness of 3.2 mm, and bending less than 0.3%. The backsheet must have a three-layered structure with a minimum thickness of 300 microns.

Last month, BHEL issued an EoI to supply mono or multicrystalline solar modules for a 100 MW solar project of the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited at Raghanesda solar park.

BHEL had also invited bids for 7.361 million monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear (PERC) solar cells with a wattage output of 5.38 W.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, BHEL has invited bids to procure 881 MW of solar modules to date.