Made-in-India solar gets another mega order: 870 MWp modules under new SECI tender
According to the tender structure, the total 870 MWp capacity has been divided into three equal packages of 290 MWp each, allowing multiple manufacturers to participate while maintaining project scale. Bidders can quote for a minimum of one package and up to the full capacity across three packages, with a provision for additional capacity allocation at the time of award. The procurement is targeted exclusively at ALMM-compliant suppliers, with modules required to be listed under ALMM List-I and the solar cells used required to be listed under ALMM List-II, ensuring end-to-end domestic sourcing and traceability.
The technical specifications indicate a shift toward higher-efficiency module platforms. The tender calls for monocrystalline TOPCon-based modules with a minimum nameplate rating of 585 Wp and efficiency thresholds above conventional mono PERC products. It also prescribes tight degradation limits and glass-to-glass module construction formats, reflecting a preference for longer-life, utility-scale performance standards. For crystalline silicon technology, all manufacturing steps — from wafer processing through cell fabrication to final module assembly — must be carried out at Indian facilities under defined quality control processes.
The modules are to be delivered at Radhanesda in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, one of the country’s largest solar development zones. At the specified minimum wattage, the total tendered capacity translates into roughly 1.5 million modules excluding mandatory spares, pointing to significant production volumes for selected bidders. The delivery schedule is structured in phases within a defined completion window, supported by performance bank guarantee requirements covering supply and defect liability periods.
Industry analysts say centralised DCR tenders of this scale serve as anchor demand for recently expanded domestic cell and module capacities, including new TOPCon manufacturing lines. By linking eligibility to ALMM lists for both cells and modules, the procurement framework reduces import dependence and improves bankability for Indian manufacturers. Such large-volume, compliance-driven bids are increasingly emerging as a dual-policy instrument — enabling capacity addition in renewable energy while simultaneously strengthening domestic solar manufacturing depth.
India is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030, and large domestic procurement programs like the latest 870 MWp solar module tender from Solar Energy Corporation of India play a critical role in moving toward that goal. By mandating locally manufactured cells and modules under the ALMM framework notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, such tenders not only support near-term solar capacity addition but also strengthen the domestic manufacturing base needed to sustain long-term growth. Policy-linked, DCR-driven bids of this scale help align project deployment with supply-chain localization, supporting both energy security and the broader clean energy transition roadmap of India.
Related Coverage by Urja Kranti India :-
