NTPC REL Invites EoI for 15 GW of Solar Modules

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from domestic manufacturers for providing approximately 15 GW of solar modules upto a cumulative period of minimum five years.

The last date to submit the EoI is November 8, 2021, the responses will be opened on the next day. The sourced modules can have cells either manufactured domestically or can have cells sourced from anywhere in the world. Of course, the modules have to be domestically sourced. The EOI comes at a particularly interesting time for the market, with significant new capacity build up having been announced or in the process of being started. Results of the PLI scheme for solar manufacturing will also be out shortly, adding a further 10-12 GW of manufacturing capacity. All this, at a time when the market is seeing the kind of price volatility it hasn’t seen in years.

NTPC REL, a wholly owned subsidiary of state-run NTPC, was set up as a separate entity by the power producer to accelerate the group’s presence in the RE sector. NTPC REL aims to achieve around 15 GW RE by FY25 and scale it further to around 44 GW by FY32. Overall, NTPC group has set a target of 60 GW by 2032.

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The EOI document describes the purpose of the EOI as being to “evaluate the upcoming capacities of the domestic solar PV module manufacturers, mainly their techno-commercial requirements to initiate the process of long terms sourcing tie ups”, says NTPC REL. The broad scope of work is defined as follows by the company:

• The technology roadmap of the solar PV module manufacturers and the capacities which are being planned by them.
• Expectations from NTPC REL w.r.t the techno-commercial terms and conditions for entering into a long terms sourcing partnership.
• NTPC REL is also open to “contract manufacturing tie ups” with the module manufacturers on long term basis under the framework of strategic sourcing tie ups and would like to receive the detailed framework of the same as a part of the EoI process.
• In this regard, the manufacturer will be required to come up with a detailed plan to establish the feasibility of contract manufacturing tie-ups.
• Mechanism for offered pricing philosophy.
• The manufacturing plans, technical inputs for solar PV modules integrated with or without cell, wafers etc.
• Details of the different technologies, modules sizes that are being planned by the applicants for the manufacturing of solar PV modules.

The interested applicants are required to specify in their response, the technical specification, costs, timelines, footprint and other data as detailed in the tender document. The applicants may also express their interest in respect of their offerings along with other inputs in their responses.

The applicant’s responses received in the EoI will be utilized by NTPC REL for:

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• Identification of various technologies mentioned above, techno-commercial inputs to take further decision for long terms sourcing either directly or through contract; and/or
• Formulation of specifications and qualifying criteria

The full tender document can be accessed here.