The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has amended the tender for its 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant with five years O&M (Operation and Maintenance) at BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Limited), Bhojudih Coal Washery, in Purulia district of West Bengal.

In January this year, SECI had issued the tender for the project. It had specified that the solar modules used for the project must be registered as per the list of Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules Order, 2019.

According to the SECI amendment, the provisions mentioned in the notification issued by MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) on March 10, 2021, on ‘Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) of Solar Photovoltaic Modules’ and its subsequent amendments and clarifications, would be applicable for the 25 MW solar tender.

According to notification, only the models and manufacturers included in the list will be eligible for government or government-assisted projects in the country, including those for the sale of electricity to the government. Further, the ALMM concerning the List-I (modules) and List-II (cells) will be applicable only for projects for which the bids will be concluded after 30 days of the list’s publication (March 10, 2021).

The SECI amendment also states that the cells and modules used in the project would be sourced only from the models and manufacturers included in the List-I and/or List-II published by MNRE and updated on the 30^th day before the bid submission deadline for the tender.

Bidders must also provide a declaration that they are aware of the binding provisions of the ALMM order and the list(s) while quoting the tariff.

Earlier this month, the SECI amended the tender for the same project, asking bidders to take note of the basic customs duty imposition on imported solar photovoltaic modules and cells. The time for commissioning was nine months from the date of the letter of award, which was later amended to 12 months.