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Central Electronics Seeks Developers for 1.2 GWp Solar Module Manufacturing Facility at Sahibabad

Central Electronics Ltd. (CEL) has issued a tender inviting developers to set up a 1.2 GWp solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing line at its Sahibabad facility, adopting a revenue-sharing framework aligned with the Government of India’s Make in India initiative.

The proposed manufacturing unit will be developed on a 21,000 sq. m plot within CEL’s Sahibabad campus, with a planned built-up area of approximately 15,000 sq. m. The identified site, which also accommodates an existing 900 kW ground-mounted solar power plant, will be handed over to the selected bidder on an “as-is, where-is” basis.

Under the tender conditions, the successful developer must install the complete manufacturing line and commence commercial operations within 12 months from the date of issuance of the Letter of Intent (LoI) or site handover, whichever occurs later.

The scope of the project includes construction of infrastructure, procurement and commissioning of manufacturing equipment, arrangement of utilities and manpower, and securing all required certifications and insurance. The developer will also be responsible for operations and maintenance, marketing and sales, as well as warranty obligations for the solar modules produced at the facility.

Interested bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 50 lakh. The deadline for bid submission is January 15, 2026, with the opening of techno-commercial bids scheduled for January 16, 2026.

As per the tender terms, all solar modules manufactured under this project must be sold exclusively through CEL, although they will be marketed under the developer’s brand name. The developer will bear full responsibility for product warranties and must indemnify CEL against any claims arising from module performance or quality.

The initial contract tenure has been set at six years, with an option to extend the agreement by up to an additional three years. CEL has also earmarked financial support of up to Rs 25 crore for the project, to be disbursed against invoices. Any infrastructure created using this support will remain the property of Central Electronics Ltd.

Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, the selected developer will be required to pay CEL either the per-watt rate discovered through a forward auction process or a minimum guaranteed amount of Rs 15 crore in the first year and Rs 18 crore annually from the second year onwards, including during any extension period.

The tender specifies a reserve price of Rs 0.25 per watt peak (Wp). Eligibility criteria require bidders to have an average annual turnover of at least Rs 75 crore during any three consecutive financial years out of the last four years, along with a minimum net worth of Rs 50 crore as of March 31, 2025.