India's 10-GW solar tender with 3 GW manufacturing extended

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has again extended the deadline for bids in its 10-GW solar tended linked with 3 GW of annual manufacturing capacity.

The government agency said the bid submission deadline is being extended to October 12, with techno-commercial bid opening to take place on October 15. The deadline was last set for September 27.

The tender for 10 GW of Interstate Transmission System (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects was first announced in May, but the manufacturing element of the auction was recently reduced to 3 GW from 5 GW. Bidders can make offers for blocks of 2 GW of solar projects associated with 600 MW of manufacturing capacity.

Local media reported that the latest bid deadline extension comes amid a lack of interest in the tender. Citing a market source, Mercom said that current tender got no takers, with big players such as Tata, Adani and Soft Bank shunning the competition.

The Economic Times (ET) also reported that several big players it has contacted are expected to keep away from solar auctions linked with manufacturing because they see the model as "faulty."

The maximum tariff in the auction, set at INR 2.75 (USD 0.038/EUR 0.033) per kWh, is also perceived as too low to compete with Chinese panels, according to an industry executive, cited by the ET.

(INR 100 = USD 1.379/EUR 1.191)

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