The Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise, has announced a tender for 1,000,000 multicrystalline solar cells.

According to the tender document, the solar cells must have five bus bar cells with a minimum efficiency of 19.4%. The size should be 157x157mm +_0.25 mm. The thickness of each solar cell should be 200+_20 microns, and the front side must have uniform Silicon Nitride (SiN) anti-reflecting coating.

The last date for the submission of bids is May 12, 2020.

According to CEL, solar cell manufacturers and their authorized vendors are eligible to quote the rate, but traders or stockists are not allowed to participate in this tender. Only original manufacturers or their authorized representatives with valid authorization letters from original manufacturers are eligible to submit quotations under the two packet system.

The supplier must confirm that the modules manufactured from the cells conform to the International Electrotechnical Commission standards and are tested in an accredited laboratory.

The interested vendor should have a minimum of 100 MW/annum in-house multicrystalline solar cell manufacturing capacity.

Meanwhile, those bidders who are not in the approved vendor list of CEL would also be allowed to participate. These unapproved vendors should supply a sample lot of a minimum of 200 cells meeting CEL’s specifications.

As per the tender document, all cells should be free from chipping, micro-cracks, pinholes, and other cracks. Further, the solar cells shouldn’t have discontinuity of metal printing lines or color variation between the cells. CEL has specified that the packing should be in lots of 100 cells or as per the standard size of the vendors. CEL has stated that it can also split the quantity and award capacities to two or more vendors as per the production or project requirement.

In January 2020, Mercom reported that Central Electronics Limited had issued a tender inviting bid to supply 100,000 monocrystalline solar cells.

Previously, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) also invited bids to manufacture and supply 12 million units of 156.75 mm multicrystalline solar cells with five busbars and 4.62Wp.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.