NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Green Energy Limited, has issued a significant Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the supply of solar PV modules, targeting its ambitious 1,000 MW solar power projects. This substantial procurement initiative, announced on August 1, 2025, is set to bolster India's renewable energy infrastructure, specifically in the Lalitpur and Chitrakoot districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The tender, with a bid submission deadline of August 19, 2025, seeks to procure solar PV modules with a total required DC capacity of 1,450 MWp. This capacity is strategically divided across three distinct project blocks: Lalitpur-1 (435 MWp), Lalitpur-2 (435 MWp), and Chitrakoot-1 (580 MWp). The bidding process will adhere to Domestic Competitive Bidding (DCB) guidelines, employing a Single Stage Two Envelope system, which will culminate in a reverse auction to ensure competitive pricing.

NTPC REL's scope of work for the successful bidder encompasses the comprehensive manufacturing, supply, packing, forwarding, and transportation of crystalline bifacial solar PV modules. These modules are mandated to possess a minimum nominal rating of 570 Wp. Crucially, all modules must fall under the Open Category and be explicitly listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I, as stipulated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). This requirement underscores India's focus on quality assurance and promoting domestic manufacturing capabilities within the solar sector.

Prospective bidders are required to furnish bid security commensurate with their quoted capacity. For a single block, such as Lalitpur-1 or Lalitpur-2, the bid security is set at ₹10 crore. Bidders opting to quote for the entire 1,464.5 MWp capacity must provide a higher bid security of ₹20 crore. Eligibility criteria are stringent, demanding that bidders must have manufactured and supplied a minimum of 200 MWp of solar PV modules or cells within any twelve-month period over the last five years, including at least one order of 50 MWp. Furthermore, bidders must demonstrate a manufacturing capacity equivalent to 1.67 times their quoted capacity.

Financially, the average annual turnover of the bidder during the preceding three financial years, as of the techno-commercial bid opening date, must not be less than 0.244 times their quoted capacity in crore rupees. This robust financial criterion aims to ensure that only financially sound and capable entities participate in this critical national project. This tender is a pivotal step for NTPC REL in expanding its green energy footprint and contributing significantly to India's target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030.