India’s expanding solar energy sector is creating procurement opportunities for manufacturers, distributors and contractors supplying solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters, steel mounting structures, cables and electrical equipment. However, these requirements do not always appear as separate equipment tenders. Some buyers purchase modules or spare parts themselves. In contrast, others include the equipment in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) or balance-of-system (BoS) contracts, making it crucial to identify the issuing entity and what the contract covers when tracking relevant business opportunities.
The procurement landscape encompasses entities like the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), NTPC along with its renewable energy, Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd., and many more. Their needs vary from utility-scale solar installations to rooftop installations and maintenance of the plants. For the suppliers, it is very critical to know how to distinguish project announcements from live tenders and awarded contracts, as they all showcase a different step of the procurement process.
SECI and NTPC: Key sources of solar procurement information
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issues tenders for the implementation of solar projects, along with the procurement of modules, rooftop installations, and contracts for balance-of-system. The company's procurement activities in the year 2026 demonstrate the significance of both equipment acquisition and general contracting for projects.
In February 2026, SECI issued an 870 MWp solar module procurement tender specifying domestically manufactured modules using domestically manufactured solar cells. The bid deadline was 10 April 2026, and SECI subsequently listed a result announcement dated 14 September 2026. This is a completed bidding example, not an open opportunity.
SECI also issued a balance-of-system tender for an 88 MW AC ground-mounted solar PV project at Chitradurga, Karnataka. The package excluded PV modules and covered design, equipment and material supply, civil works, installation, testing, commissioning and five years of operation and maintenance. The listed online bid deadline was 17 September 2026, followed by an offline submission deadline of 21 September 2026. The tender is therefore a historical procurement example rather than a current open opportunity.
NTPC, along with its renewable power companies, poses another channel for procuring materials such as photovoltaic modules, inverter parts, electrical apparatus, and various spare parts. The people doing the procurements can keep track of the current updates and technical documents available through the e-procurement portal of NTPC. State-run enterprises, agencies of the state, and contractors that cater for projects also have needs for procurements, although such needs differ in nature and type.
Solar modules: Direct supply and domestic sourcing requirements
The procurement of the solar panels may consist of millions of pieces of machinery from solar plants of large sizes, while sometimes it may refer to the rooftop installations and institutional projects of a smaller scale. The SECI’s 870 MWp solar plant project shows the meaning of such procurement and the significance of the local manufacturing in different government projects.
It is essential for manufacturers to take into consideration technological features, output power, testing procedures, delivery processes, main requirements for efficiency and suitability for domestic sourcing. Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) requirements should also be checked against the specific tender documents rather than assumed to apply identically to every procurement.
Inverters: New installations and replacement requirements
Inverter procurement includes string and central inverters, hybrid systems, spare parts and replacement equipment. Requirements vary according to plant design, generating capacity and whether the installation is new or already operational.
Suppliers should assess inverter ratings, efficiency, grid-compliance conditions, compatibility with existing systems, warranty terms and commissioning requirements. These products may be purchased through standalone supply contracts or included within a larger EPC or BoS package, so identifying the actual purchaser is as important as locating the tender.
Mounting structures: Opportunities for steel suppliers
Solar mounting structures create procurement demand for fabricated steel sections, galvanised supports, fasteners and associated installation materials. Steel producers, structural fabricators and galvanising companies may supply directly to project developers or work through EPC contractors.
Technical requirements can cover steel grade, corrosion protection, structural design loads, fabrication tolerances and quality documentation. The bill of quantities and engineering specifications should guide estimates of material demand because project capacity alone does not establish how much steel a particular installation will require.
Solar cables and electrical equipment
Solar cable procurement covers DC cables connecting PV modules to inverters, AC power cables, connectors, termination kits and related electrical accessories. Larger projects may also require transformers, switchgear, protection systems and monitoring equipment.
Cable suppliers should verify conductor material, cross-section, voltage rating, insulation, weather resistance, applicable standards and testing requirements. Copper and aluminium products may be specified for different applications, making the technical schedule and bill of quantities essential when preparing a quotation.
Current solar tenders: What suppliers can track
SECI’s tender listings show procurement activity across rooftop and utility-scale solar projects. As of 12 October 2026, the following examples have future bid deadlines. These are project or developer-selection opportunities, not necessarily standalone equipment purchase orders. Suppliers should review the tender documents and any subsequent corrigenda before acting on the dates.
SECI issued a 60 MW AC solar PV project tender at Gaya, Bihar, on 30 September 2026. The official tender page lists an online bid submission deadline of 12 November 2026 at 6:00 PM and an offline submission deadline of 16 November 2026 at 6:00 PM. The contract covers design, engineering, supply, construction, installation, testing, commissioning and operation and maintenance. Suppliers should review the detailed scope to establish which components are included and how equipment procurement will be handled.
SECI also issued an 11.159 MW rooftop solar programme under the RESCO model on 1 October 2026. Its listed online submission deadline is 10 November 2026 at 6:00 PM, with offline submissions due by 12 November 2026 at 6:00 PM. The tender concerns the selection of solar project developers rather than a direct purchase of a specified quantity of modules or other components.
A further 3.68 MW rooftop solar programme for NDMC buildings was issued on 7 October 2026. The listed online bid deadline is 17 November 2026 at 6:00 PM, and the offline submission deadline is 19 November 2026 at 6:00 PM. As with the other RESCO opportunity, the procurement is structured around selecting a project developer. It may create downstream demand for modules, inverters, mounting structures and cables when the selected developer arranges procurement.
These examples illustrate how buyers structure solar procurement, but they should not be treated as a comprehensive count of India’s open solar equipment tenders. A national estimate would require reviewing central and state portals, removing duplicate listings and separating open tenders from awarded, cancelled and completed contracts.
What suppliers should verify before bidding
Before responding to a solar tender, businesses should confirm the submission deadline, latest corrigenda, technical specifications, eligibility conditions, previous-experience requirements, turnover thresholds, earnest money deposit (EMD), performance security, delivery schedule and warranty obligations.
They should also determine whether the contract covers direct supply, installation, a turnkey EPC project or a developer-selection process. Applicable ALMM and domestic sourcing provisions must be assessed against the specific procurement documents.
These checks help suppliers establish whether they can bid directly, need to partner with an EPC contractor or should monitor the opportunity for a subsequent equipment purchase. They also reduce the risk of treating a project’s total investment as the addressable value of an individual component contract.
Conclusion
India’s solar procurement market offers opportunities across modules, inverters, steel mounting structures, cables and electrical equipment. SECI’s completed module and balance-of-system tenders demonstrate the scale and structure of recent procurement, while its September–October 2026 Gaya and rooftop notices illustrate how new requirements enter the market. NTPC, state utilities and other public-sector buyers provide additional channels for identifying demand.
For suppliers, effective tender tracking means distinguishing live opportunities from historical procurement, understanding the scope of each contract and verifying eligibility before committing resources. Monitoring component-specific requirements alongside broader solar project tenders can help businesses identify where their products fit into India’s expanding solar supply chain.