The Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) has issued a notice inviting tenders for the supply of chip solar cells of 2.87 Watt capacity from domestic manufacturers.

The last date for the submission of bids has been set for May 24, 2019, with the opening of bids is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2019.

The quantity to be supplied is 4,50,000 cells. The technical specification for the cells is 3/4/5 Busbar multi/ mono-crystalline silicon solar cells.

In an in-depth report, Mercom had tried to analyze if the Indian solar market ready to transition to mono PERC cell technology. The consensus in the solar industry is that it is gradually shifting towards monocrystalline cell technology from the more common multi-crystalline (also called multi-crystalline) cells and modules. The introduction of passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) cell technology has markedly increased the efficiency of monocrystalline cells, making them an economically attractive option for many projects. However, the use of multi-crystalline modules still dominates the market in India, though developers have begun to seriously consider mono perc modules as they come with several important advantages.

In this tender, the vendors who have not supplied such cells earlier will have to submit a sample of 100 solar cells free of cost to REIL for the evaluation and acceptance before the due date.  Only those vendors whose samples qualify in REIL acceptance criteria will be considered. The order will be placed to the lowest bidder. However, REIL would reserve the right to offer the lowest rates to other qualified bidders as well.

In the calendar year (CY) 2018, the Indian solar sector imported solar modules and cells totaling nearly $2.59 billion (~₹184.57 billion), a 37 percent decline from the $4.12 billion (~₹269 billion) recorded during the preceding year. In 2018, Indian solar exports also decreased with $106.89 million (~₹ 7.61 billion) in exports, a decline of 19 percent from 2017 when the figure stood at $132.29 million (~₹8.6 billion), according to the latest trade data.

The detailed analysis of export-import data by country is available in our 2018 Q4 & Annual India Solar Quarterly Market Update.

The government has been trying to provide more impetus to domestic manufacturers of solar cells and modules in a bid to make the market more self-sufficient. To this end, last year, Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise of the government of India, invited expression of interest (EoI) from interested parties to set up manufacturing facility in the country for the production of crystalline silicon solar PV modules (Conventional/Flexible) and  solar cells under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Soumik is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Prior to joining Mercom, Soumik was a correspondent for UNI, New Delhi covering the Northeast region for seven years. He has also worked as an Asia Correspondent for Washington DC-based Hundred Reporters. He has contributed as a freelancer to several national and international digital publications with a focus on data-based investigative stories on environmental corruption, hydro power projects, energy transition and the circular economy. Soumik is an Economics graduate from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University.