The Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has issued a tender for the design, supply, installation, training, commissioning of a solar module manufacturing unit with an expected yearly production capacity between 5 MW and 10 MW (peak electric power).

The 5 MW solar PV panels will use single shifts of eight hours a day and 300 working days annually and 10 MW solar PV panels using double shifts with a total of 16 hours a day and 300 working days/year.

According to the tender document, KenGen wants to install the solar PV module manufacturing unit at its Tana Power Station premises in Muranga’a county.

“An existing warehouse, at the power station, has been identified as the most appropriate building to house this project,” states the document.

The last date for the submission of bids is April 15, 2020.  A mandatory site visit has been scheduled for March 18, 2020.

According to KenGen, successful bidders must supply goods that have their origin in the eligible source countries. In this context, ‘origin’ means the place where the goods are mined, grown, or produced.

Prospective bidders must submit a tender security deposit of KES 200,000 (~$1,931). As per the tender document, the performance security will be in the amount of 10% of the contract price.

The tender document states that assuming each module has a rating of 250 W (peak power), a total of 400 panels will be required to make up 100 kW capacity.

Since the solar cell is a critical component of PV modules and panels, KenGen has specified 25,000 of such cells for the project. Similarly, 410 pieces of the junction box and 410 sets of solar PV cables are also required for the project.

Apart from the design, supply, and commissioning of the project, the successful bidder will also be responsible for designing the equipment and a layout for the production line based on building and floor space provided by KenGen.

As far as the eligibility criteria are concerned, the interested bidders should have completed a similar project in the past. The bidder must have experience of having installed silicon-based monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar PV module manufacturing projects.

According to KenGen, all equipment requiring electrical power supply should be able to operate on 220—240 volts single phase or 380-415 volts three-phase of 50 HZ power line frequency.

The tender document further states that PV panels manufactured must be warranted for their output peak watt capacity, which should not be less than 90% at the end of 10 years and 80% in 25 years.

Kenya has been working towards the diversification of its energy mix to ensure universal electrification of homes.

Last year, Mercom reported that Globeleq, an energy company focused on Africa, announced the financial closure of a 40 MW Malindi Solar photovoltaic project in Kenya.

Earlier, it was reported that the World Bank approved $180 million in assistance to Kenya to strengthen the financial health of the Kenya Electricity Generation Company and improve private sector financing in the energy sector of the East African country.