Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC) has issued an invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) to set up an integrated ‘State-of-the Art’ Solar Business Unit for the manufacture of solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules that includes solar cells and wafers. Interested parties must respond by August 8, 2017.

The manufacturing unit will initially have a capacity of 50 MW which will be scaled up to 150 MW in two years. The HEC plans on manufacturing multi-crystalline ingots, solar wafers, solar cells, and PV modules ranging from 5W to 350W. The HEC will create a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in partnership with the successful bidder to develop the manufacturing unit.

The HEC has stated that only companies that have the subject technology and experience setting up such a facility who are presently carrying out manufacturing, research and development, and marketing and sales of solar PV modules with a capacity of at least 150 MW either as a single facility or multiple facilities with a minimum single capacity of 50 MW are eligible to participate. Companies will also be asked to share design, technology, and manufacturing knowledge on a mutually beneficial basis.

The HEC has asked that the participating firm commit to not competing either directly or indirectly with the proposed SPV in this business segment, and that it not provide the same technology to any other firm in India until the existence of the proposed SPV.

An HEC official told Mercom, “this is the best way to gain market share in the Indian solar sector, and by the looks of it there might be levy of anti-dumping on solar exports to India.”

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