First Solar Bags SECI's 260 MWp DCR Solar Modules Supply Tender

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has recently awarded its 260 MWp solar module supply tender to First Solar (India) for ₹474.10 crore. Under the tender, the bidders are required to manufacture and supply domestically produced solar modules made with domestically manufactured solar cells. The tender for this project was awarded after six months from issuing the tender. 

As per the tender details, First Solar is also required to supply 0.5% of the awarded package capacity as mandatory spares, in addition to the main supply. The bidder is expected to supply Monocrystalline Silicon (monofacial or bifacial) and Thin Film CdTe solar technology modules.

Scope of Work

Under the component specifications, SECI has outlined that the project will include Crystalline Silicon Modules. For Glass/Polymer modules, the glass must be heat-strengthened, with light transmittance above 90% and a minimum thickness of 3.2 mm.

For Glass/Glass modules, SECI specified in its tender that the glass on each side must be heat-strengthened, with a minimum thickness of 2 mm and light transmittance above 90%. In the case of Thin Film modules, the glass must include a Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) layer, be heat-strengthened, and have a minimum thickness of 2 mm on each side, with light transmittance also above 90%.

Previous Tender

Last year, SECI also awarded a domestic solar panel manufacturing tender that required modules with domestically manufactured solar cells from Indian manufacturers. Swelect Energy Systems, Grew Energy, and ReNew Photovoltaics Pvt Ltd were declared the winners of the bid.

In that tender, SECI awarded 100 MWp of capacity each to Swelect and Renew, and it awarded 200 MWp of capacity to Grew. All of these bidders had their evaluated bid value of Rs 22.66/Wp. On the other hand, their bid value for MWp stood at  Rs 2,26,56,975 (Rs 2.26 crore/MWp).