Government-owned electronics manufacturer, Central Electronics Limited (CEL), has issued a tender for multi-crystalline solar cells (5 busbars).

The CEL is looking to procure cells with a minimum efficiency of 18.8%. Only manufacturers of solar cells have been allowed to bid for these projects. The non-PERC modules are expected to conform to the respective IEC norms. The thickness of these cells should be 200 microns, and the dimensions should be 157 X 157 (±0.25mm).

Manufacturers should have a capacity of 100 MW per annum as per the pre-condition to participate in the tender. Unapproved vendors are also mandated to provide a sample of 200 cells. According to the tender documents, suppliers should package the cells in lots of 100 each.

There is no earnest money deposit (EMD) amount that would need to be submitted by the bidders. The last date of submission of bids for the tender is October 15, 2019.

Government agencies such as CEL have been issuing tenders for the procurement of domestically produced solar components in a bid to promote conform to the domestic content requirement mandate.

Recently, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) issued a request for quotation for the procurement of 798,430 monocrystalline silicon solar cells.

In August 2019, CEL issued a similar tender to procure 100,000 chip solar cells of 2.97-Watt capacity from domestic manufacturers. Then in May 2019, Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited had issued a notice inviting tenders for the supply of chip solar cells of 2.87 Watt capacity from domestic manufacturers.

Amidst the rising demand for domestically manufactured solar components, last month, the Minister of Power R.K. Singh proposed that a basic customs duty should be imposed on imported solar cells and modules from April 2021. According to the letter, the Indian solar industry has become dependent on foreign photovoltaic cells and modules, thus preventing the growth of the domestic manufacturing segment.