Indian engineering and manufacturing major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has invited bids for consulting firms to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on the solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing value chain. The work scope includes conducting consulting engagement activities like market research, sectoral assessment, market entry strategy, business modelling, and feasibility studies. Selected bidders must prepare a DPR for manufacturing in the entire solar PV value chain—quartz mining, polysilicon, ingots, wafer, cells, and modules. Bidders are not required to submit an earnest money deposit (EMD). The last date for the submission of bids is 9 April 2021. Eligibility: To be eligible to participate in the competitive bidding process, applicants must have had an annual turnover of at least Rs 30 lakh from consulting work in the last three years. Bidders must have previously completed three similar works worth not less than Rs 40 lakh each, two similar ones worth Rs 50 lakh each, or one similar work worth at least Rs 80 lakh in the last seven years. The lack of adequate solar manufacturing capacity, which has been holding down the Indian solar sector, may change soon thanks to the production-linked incentive (PLI) and has allocated Rs 1.45 trillion to 10 critical sectors in the country over the next five years. BHEL said it is currently exploring opportunities in the solar manufacturing sector to help reduce India’s dependence on imports and to support the government’s AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiative. The company needs consultants to identify opportunities in entering, expanding, or backward integrating into the PV manufacturing sector. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently announced basic customs duty on imported solar cells and modules starting 1 April 2022. The objective of the duty is to promote domestic manufacturing of solar components. BHEL currently has a solar portfolio of over 1.2 GW of projects including, ground-mounted, rooftop, canal top, floating solar systems, among others. It has a cell manufacturing capacity of 100 MW and a module-making capacity of 226 MW. Image Source Also read: Customs duty on solar imports from April 2022 Also read: PLI scheme for solar PV to attract Rs 14k cr investment