The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has invited an expression of interest (EoI) to set up solar component (modules and cells) manufacturing unit in the state.

The deadline to submit the EoI is September 29, 2018.

MAHAGENCO will provide the land required to set up the manufacturing unit. It will be the bidder’s responsibility to set up the solar cell and photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing unit. The sales and marketing and after sales services will also be the sole responsibility of the bidder. MAHAGENCO has arranged for a pre-bid meeting on September 6, 2018.

Bidders are free to manufacture any type of solar cells or PV modules. The bidder must submit their offers along with other details like their financial model, type of module manufacturing technology, structure of joint venture. The bidder will also be required to provide details regarding MAHAGENCO’s share in the revenue.

When contacted, a MAHAGENCO official said, “Right now, we have not specified the manufacturing unit size. Once we receive all the EoIs, we will decide the capacity of the unit.”

When asked about the subsidies that will be made available, the official said, “Right now, in Maharashtra there are no such polices on subsidizing solar manufacturing by the state government. So the central government subsidies will be made available.”

MNRE had released a concept note in December of 2017 for a proposal to build out India’s manufacturing supply chain. In the note, MNRE proposed a slew of subsidies and incentives including direct financial support of more than ?110 billion (~$1.7 billion) for manufacturers to expand and upgrade, a 12 GW Central Public-Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) program to create robust domestic demand, an annual increase in the DCR requirement from modules to polysilicon from 2018 to 2022, 30 percent central financial assistance, cheaper loans, a customs duty exemption, and cheaper power.

Meanwhile Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has reduced the size of the manufacturing tender linked to inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar projects from 5 GW to 3 GW.