Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise, has floated tenders for 1.75 million multicrystalline solar cells.

The tenders are for procuring 250,000 multicrystalline solar cells of wattage capacity of a minimum of 4.52 W, 1.5 million multicrystalline solar cells of a minimum of 4.68 W.

To qualify in the first tender (supply of 250,000 multicrystalline solar cells), the cells must be 156.75 x 156.75 mm ± 0.25mm or 157x 157 mm ± 0.25 in dimension. They must be five bus bars in length and 200 ± 20 microns in thickness. The last date to submit the bids is June 3, 2021, and bids will be opened on the same day.

For the second tender (supply of 1 million multicrystalline solar cells), the cells must be 156.75 x 156.75 mm ± 0.25mm or 157x 157 mm or ± 0.25 in dimension. They must be five bus bars in length and 200 ± 20 microns in thickness. The last date to submit the bids for this tender is June 4, 2021, while the bids will be opened on the same day.

The third tender (supply of 500,000 multicrystalline solar cells) mentions that the solar cells must be five bus bars in length, with an efficiency of 19.6%. They must be about 200 ± 20 microns in thickness and measure 157×157 mm ± 0.25 in dimension. The last date to submit the bids for this tender is June 3, 2021. Here too, the bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders are not required to pay any earnest money deposit for this tender.

For all three tenders, the cells must be free of cracks, holes, cuts, edge chipping, smudges, patches, spots, discontinuity of metal printing lines, or color mismatches. The products should have homogeneous silicon nitride coating without any color variations. The packing of the cells should be in lots of 100 cells or as per the vendors’ standard size.

The vendors are expected to have an annual in-house multicrystalline solar cell manufacturing capacity of at least 30 MW/annum. They are also required to supply a sample containing 100 such cells that meet the given specifications.

Multicrystalline cells are widely used in solar modules in India. Producing these cells involves melting many fragments of silicon together and forming a wafer.

Only original manufacturers or their authorized representatives with their valid authorization letter from original manufacturers will be eligible to participate in the bidding process. CEL would like to get offers directly from original manufacturers and deal with them without any third party’s involvement.

The bidding documents further mention that bidders from micro and small enterprises will have to attach supporting documents to avail benefits under relevant sections.

Last month, CEL floated a tender to purchase 1 million multicrystalline solar photovoltaic cells with wattage capacity greater than 4.70 W.

Earlier, CEL had floated a tender for 1.8 million multicrystalline solar photovoltaic cells with wattage greater than 4.68W.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, CEL has floated tenders for about 5.93 million multicrystalline cells as of April 2021.