NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL), the renewable energy arm of NTPC, has invited expression of interest (EoI)for Strategic Sourcing Tie-ups of Solar PV Modules for approx.15 GW upto a cumulative period of five years.
NREL “desires to enter into long term sourcing partners for solar photo voltaic (PV) modules to develop its renewable energy portfolio either by way of direct sourcing tie ups or through a contract manufacturing,” said the company statement.
The deadline to submit the bids is 8 November, 2021.
The purpose of this EoI is to evaluate the upcoming capacities of the domestic solar PV module manufacturers, their techno-commercial requirements to initiate the process of long terms sourcing tie ups, it added.
Modules made up of imported solar cells will also be eligible, NREL said.
NREL was incorporated to focus on NTPC’s green energy business, as it aims to attain 60,000 MW of green capacity by 2032 from the current level of around 1,400 MW. Around 75% of the 2032 green energy target is expected to come from solar.
The union cabinet had approved the PLI scheme for manufacture of high efficiency solar photovoltaic module. The ₹4,500 crore PLI scheme for solar photo voltaic modules will help India ramp up its domestic manufacturing capacity. The scheme is expected to add 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity of integrated solar photo voltaic manufacturing plants and bring direct investment of around ₹17,200 crore.
The federal government is anticipating a grand response to the programme with bids at nearly four times the 10 GW tender.
A senior government official said large companies are evincing interest and are expected to commit end-to-end solar manufacturing.
Reliance Industries, Adani Solar, ACME Photo voltaic and Vikram Photo Voltaic are more likely to bid for contracts underneath the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for photo voltaic modules.
