Gandhinagar-based Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) has invited bids to supply equipment for a 50 MW solar module manufacturing line.

The last date to submit the bids is December 23, 2020. Prospective bidders are expected to pay earnest deposit money (EMD) of ₹500,000 (~$6,797.5)

The project’s scope includes the supply, layout, design and installation, commissioning, inspection, training, and process optimization of the equipment, along with a five-year warranty. The scope of work also covers an annual maintenance contract (AMC) for two years (turnkey), including the International Electrotechnical Commission certification.

A prospective bidder must have supplied and installed at least one turnkey line solution to a government department, public sector undertaking, university, or any other recognized company in the last three years to be eligible.

The prospective bidder must be involved in the solar product line business for the last five years or more. The bidder must have an annual average turnover of more than ₹100 million (~$1.35 million) along with an average net worth of not less than ₹250 million (~$3.39 million) and no losses to account for in the last three financial years.

The prospective bidders must manufacture all the machinery in-house. All the solar module line equipment should be preferably procured from a single source. The bidder should have already supplied and installed a minimum of 1 GW of turnkey solutions or a 50 MW full turnkey line in India.

Prospective bidders would have to quote a firm delivery period not exceeding 120 days. If the materials are not delivered within the period stipulated in the order, a penalty would be levied at 0.5% per week on the total order value, subject to a maximum of 10%.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi e-inaugurated a 45 MW monocrystalline solar panel manufacturing unit at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gujarat.

According to Mercom India Research, there are over 75 units with a module manufacturing capacity of 50 MW and below in India as of September 2020.

The central government recently approved a production-linked incentive plan in ten critical sectors to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities and exports under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The government said in a notification that it would allocate ₹1.45 trillion (~$19.61 billion) for the ten critical sectors over the next five years. Some of these critical sectors include- high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules, advanced chemistry cell battery, automobiles, and auto components. The government will allocate ₹796.42 billion (~$10.75 billion) for these three sectors in the next five years.

Since the pandemic wreaked havoc on businesses, countries have shifted gears to stabilize their economies amid tumbling markets. India has begun to push the cause of domestic manufacturing with a renewed thrust.