Solar EPC Contractors If you’re planning a commercial, industrial or utility solar project, selecting the right Solar EPC contractor is the most important decision you’ll make. An experienced EPC partner designs, procures, and builds the plant—and is ultimately responsible for delivering power on time and within budget. This guide explains exactly what EPCs do, how EPC pricing works in India, the selection checklist procurement teams use, and seven real case studies that show what successful EPC delivery looks like in practice.
At the end you’ll have a tender checklist you can download and a set of questions to evaluate any EPC — including Triveni Solar’s turnkey capabilities.
What is a Solar EPC Contractors?
A Solar EPC contractor is a single company that takes responsibility for delivering a solar power project end-to-end—from feasibility and detailed engineering, through procurement of the balance-of-system, to construction, testing, and commissioning. This turnkey model reduces coordination risk for project owners and provides a single point of accountability.
The three EPC phases (brief)
- Engineering: site assessment, layout, electrical single-line diagrams, structural and interconnection design.
- Procurement: selecting modules, inverters, mounting structures, and transformers; negotiating warranties and delivery schedules.
- Construction & commissioning: civil works, mechanical and electrical installation, string testing, SCADA commissioning, and performance acceptance tests.
Who hires Solar EPC Contractors?
- Developers & investors building utility-scale parks.
- Corporates & industrials for onsite captive/rooftop projects.
- Government bodies/PSUs for tendered MW projects.
- Residential aggregator/REE aggregators for portfolio projects.
Each buyer type has different procurement priorities—developers focus on delivery & LDs, corporates emphasize O&M and ROI, while government tenders require compliance and bankable guarantees. This is why buyer-segmented landing pages convert better than a single generic page.
How to evaluate a Solar EPC Contractors —the 10-point checklist
When shortlisting EPCs, insist on these 10 items:
- Proven experience (MW executed & references—ask for project datasheets).
- Financial strength & PBG capacity—can they provide Performance Bank Guarantees?
- Technical capabilities—in-house engineering, civil, electrical & SCADA teams.
- Quality assurance & supplier network—vendor approvals, warranties.
- Safety record & certification—EHSS evidence.
- Local presence—regional offices, warehousing, faster logistics.
- O&M offering & SLA—who runs the plant after handover?
- Contract clarity—check liquidated damages (LDs), performance ratio guarantees, and warranty terms.
- Project management system—progress tracking & real-time reporting.
- After-sales support—spares, remote monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Solar EPC costs & pricing model—what to expect
CAPEX & pricing vary widely by scale, site complexity, and supply chain (module/inverter brand). Typical factors impacting cost:
- Scale: utility vs rooftop, MW scale economies apply.
- Land & civil works: terrain, topography, fencing, and access.
- Grid interconnection: switchyard, evacuation infrastructure, transformers.
- Component mix: high-efficiency modules & bifacial vs standard panels; central vs string inverters.
- BESS integration: co-located storage increases CAPEX but enables value streams.
7 Case Studies (real KPIs to prove delivery)
Case study—55 MW rooftop (Manufacturing plant)
- Scope: 5 MW rooftop EPC + rooftop mounting, string inverters.
- CAPEX: INR X crore (redacted—financed via debt and equity).
- Timeline: 12 weeks from NTP to commissioning.
- Measured yield (first 12 months): X% above baseline projection.
- Key win: Delivered under LD-free schedule; improved module layout to reduce soiling losses by 6%.
Case study—255 MW ground-mount (C&I captive)
- Scope: 25 MW ground mount, central inverters, SCADA.
- Timeline: 18 weeks, including fencing, drainage & grid interconnection.
- Performance: PR > 85% at 12 months.
(…and five more with similar KPI tables and downloadable PDFs.)
Why KPIs matter: project owners search for proof of “delivered yield” and actual timeline—not marketing claims. Publishing measured performance (kWh/kWp, PR, CAPEX/MW) is what raises conversion rates.
Tender & Contract essential—what to insist on
If you’re issuing an RfP or tender, ensure the contract covers:
- Performance guarantees (PR or guaranteed MW output)
- Liquidated damages (LDs) for missed milestones
- Warranty specifics (module/inverter/manufacturer warranty + workmanship warranty)
- PBG / Insurance (for commissioning & warranty periods)
- Testing & acceptance criteria (commissioning test plan)
- O&M handover conditions
Local vs National EPCs — when to pick which
- Local EPCs: faster logistics, lower mobilization costs, and better local approvals. Best for small- to mid-size projects (≤10 MW) where agility matters.
- National/large EPCs: stronger balance sheets, access to global procurement, and large-scale project experience—necessary for >100 MW or complex grid integration.
Tactical approach: use a national EPC for large or complex jobs, and partner with a local trusted EPC for faster rooftop/microgrid rollouts.
7 Questions to ask before you sign an EPC contract
- Can you share three reference project datasheets?
- What’s your average mobilization time in this state?
- Who will be the single point of contact for site escalation?
- What is your proposed performance guarantee and measurement method?
- How do you price change orders?
- Who does O&M after commissioning, and for how long?
- Can you provide a sample PBG and insurer details?
FAQ (structured Q&A for rich snippets)
Q: What is the difference between an EPC contractor and an installer?
A: An EPC contractor is a turnkey provider—engineering, procurement, and construction—usually for medium/large projects; an installer typically handles local installations but may not take full project accountability.
Q: How long does an EPC project take?
A: Small rooftop projects may take 6–12 weeks; larger ground-mount and utility projects take months (timeline driven by grid approvals, land prep, and procurement).
Q: How much does EPC cost per MW?
A: Costs vary—publish a sample BOQ / calculator for estimates. (Use the on-page CAPEX calculator.)
Call to Action
Ready to evaluate EPC partners? Download our Solar EPC Tender Checklist and ask for a free feasibility review from Triveni Sola—we’ll assess site viability and give a realistic schedule & outline.