The Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) has announced a tender for the manufacturing of crystalline solar photovoltaic (SPV) modules of 75 Wp. The bid submission deadline is July 18, 2019. The date for the opening of the bids is July 19, 2019.

The scope of work covers the contract manufacturing of crystalline solar photovoltaic modules of 75 Wp made from 36 crystalline silicon solar cells. The contract would be signed for 25,000 of such modules that would also need to adhere to various technical specifications. However, this quantity may increase or decrease based on the requirements of the issuing authority and the terms listed therein.

An earnest money deposit of ₹0.25 million (~$3,650) must be submitted while a performance bank guarantee of 5% of the contract value will be required to be deposited by the bidders.

The cell type mentioned in the tender is a crystalline silicon solar cell. The matrix of the cell arrangement within the module should be nine multiplied by four, that is 36 cells. The module manufacturer should be locally based, and the solar photovoltaic modules should work optimally under temperatures ranging from -10°C and +85°C and should withstand gust up to 170 km/hour on the surface of the panel. Every panel must conform with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.

Earlier this year, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), had also invited bids for the supply of SPV modules aggregating 71.177 MW for the development of its solar projects. The specifications included 72 cells of the multi 5BB (bus bar) specification.

Interestingly, a recent report based on a survey by DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions has found that the overall rate of module defects globally has increased by 34% in 2018. The report points out the failures with various backsheets like PET, polyamide, and highlights issues with glass on glass modules.