IREDA Invites Bids For Rs 4,500 Crore PLI Scheme To Boost Domestic Manufacturing Of Solar PV Modules

In a big boost to government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids from solar module manufacturers for setting up solar manufacturing units under the government's Rs 4,500 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The MNRE has appointed IREDA as the implementing agency for the scheme.

The union cabinet had earlier approved the Rs 4,500 crore scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of solar photo voltaic ( PV) modules.

The last date for submitting application is 30 June while the selection process for the successful bidders is to be completed by 30 July, the New and Renewable Energy Ministry said in a statement on Friday (11 June).

IREDA had floated the invitation for application document on 25 May on its website and the electronic application process went live on 31 May.

According to the application document, the applicants for the scheme are required to set-up either brownfield or greenfield manufacturing facility for the entire capacity allotted under the scheme.

Applicants are not allowed to set-up mix of brownfield and greenfield facility under the scheme.

Manufacturing capacity per unit, for which required capital goods have been imported before the last date of bid submission, will not be eligible for participation under this PLI scheme.

The minimum capacity of the manufacturing unit to be installed shall be 1,000 Megawatt. The PLI will be disbursed to the successful applicants annually for a period of five years, the MNRE statement said.

According to the ministry, the solar capacity addition presently depends largely upon imported solar PV cells and modules as the domestic industry has limited operational capacities of solar PV cells and modules.

The National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules will reduce import dependence in a strategic sector like electricity and as such reinforce the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, it added.