In a significant move to bolster domestic solar manufacturing Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to set up a massive 1.2 GW solar module manufacturing line at its Sahibabad facility in Uttar Pradesh.
This project, rooted in the ‘Make in India’ initiative, represents a major scaling up for CEL, which had previously floated a smaller 200 MW tender earlier in 2025.
Project Overview & Strategic Model
The facility will operate on a revenue-sharing model, where a private bidder takes charge of the entire lifecycle—from setup to sales—while sharing a portion of the proceeds with CEL.
- Total Capacity: 1.2 GW Solar PV Modules.
- Location: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
- Infrastructure: CEL is providing 21,000 sq. meters of land with a proposed build-up area of 15,000 sq. meters.
- Initial Support: CEL has earmarked ₹250 million (~$2.78 million) to support manufacturing infrastructure, though any buildings created with this fund will remain CEL’s property.
Key Timelines & Financial Obligations
Potential bidders must act quickly, as the window for submission is narrow.
| Event / Requirement | Detail |
| Bid Submission Deadline | January 15, 2026 |
| Bid Opening Date | January 16, 2026 |
| Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) | ₹5 million (~$55,643) |
| Commissioning Timeline | Within 12 months of site handover |
| Contract Duration | 6 Years (Extendable by 3 years) |
| Minimum Net Worth | ₹500 million (~$5.56 million) as of March 2025 |
Operations, Branding, and Revenue
The tender specifies strict rules regarding how the business must be conducted:
- Revenue Sharing: The successful bidder must pay CEL a discoverable per-watt revenue share, subject to a minimum guaranteed payment of:
- Year 1: ₹150 million (~$1.67 million)
- Year 2 Onwards: ₹180 million (~$2 million) per year
- Exclusive Distribution: All modules produced must be sold to end customers exclusively through CEL.
- Branding: Interestingly, the modules must be sold under the bidder’s brand; use of the CEL brand is prohibited.
- Warranty: The bidder is solely responsible for all product warranties, guarantees, and legal indemnification of CEL.
Why This Matters: The Scaling of Uttar Pradesh
This 1.2 GW project follows a 200 MW tender from April 2025, signaling CEL’s intent to become a central aggregator for solar technology in North India. By utilizing an “is-where-is” basis for handover—which includes an existing 900 kW solar project on the site—CEL is enabling a “plug-and-play” environment for private manufacturers to reach gigawatt-scale production rapidly.
