Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL), a joint venture between the Government of India and the Rajasthan government, has invited bids for the supply of 300,000 multicrystalline silicon solar cells.

The scope of work includes the supply of 150,000 multicrystalline solar cells, each of 4.50 W and 4.60 W.

The last date to submit the bids for both tenders is April 15, 2021. Bids will be opened on April 16.

The tenders are for the supply of five busbar multicrystalline silicon solar cells that are 156*156 ± 1.0 mm or 156.75*156.75 ± 1.0 mm in dimension. The thickness of the solar cells should be 200 +/- 20 µm.

The cells must be free of any cracks, holes, cuts, edge chipping, missing gridlines, smudges, patches, spots, marks, mechanical damage, or color and pattern mismatches.

The packing of solar cells should be export-worthy to avoid micro-cracks during transit. The cells should be supplied in a power band of 0.05 W.

The total quantity is to be supplied in one to two lots within two weeks from the contract date. The delivery period may be extended by REIL if required on mutual consent. A test report and qualification certificate must accompany all product manufacturers’ consignments, indicating compliance with the required specifications.

The vendors who have not supplied these cells earlier should submit a sample of 140 solar cells of each category free of cost to REIL for evaluation and acceptance before the tender due date. Only those vendors whose samples qualify will be considered.

As per the tender documents, 25% of the tendered quantity has been earmarked for micro and small enterprise (MSE) suppliers. Out of the 25% reserved for MSE suppliers, 20% has been allocated for procurement from MSEs owned by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs.

In January this year, REIL floated a tender for 200,000 multicrystalline silicon solar cells of 4.67W. The tender was for the supply of five busbar multicrystalline silicon solar cells 156*156 ± 1.0 mm or 156.75*156.75 ± 1.0 mm in dimension. Earlier, REIL had invited bids for the supply of 200,000 multicrystalline solar cells of 4.50W capacity.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, REIL has floated tenders for 5.85 million solar photovoltaic cells as of December 2020.

Mercom’s flagship event Mercom India Solar Summit, to be held virtually on April 8 and 9, has an exclusive session ‘Solar Modules to Not to Make in India?’. You can click here to register for the event. The discussion will revolve around how Indian manufacturers are gearing up to set up new production units under the government’s production-linked incentive program.