MNRE Invites EOI for Installation of Innovative Solar Pumps

MNRE has invited expression of interest (EOI) for the installation of innovative solar pumps for the promotion of innovative solar pump technologies

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had issued Guidelines for promoting innovative solar pumps in June this year. And the Ministry has now invited innovators/ manufacturers/ service providers to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to participate in the above-mentioned scheme for the promotion of innovative solar pump technologies in the country.

The guidelines are applicable for all Indian innovators/ manufacturers/ service providers, who wish to include innovative stand-alone solar pumps technologies/ models under the schemes operated by the MNRE.

As per the Ministry, the purpose of this call for EOIs is to promote innovation in the solar pumping sector by allowing the innovators to showcase their technologies in real field conditions. MNRE will shortlist the promising technologies with variable claims for improved parameters and allow the selected innovators to install solar pumps under PM-KUSUM Scheme.

Those who wish to install innovative stand-alone solar pumps in the country under schemes operated by the MNRE and satisfy the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Scheme:

1. Only those innovative products which are available for testing and field trial will be eligible for participation. A test report for the improved solar pumping system shall be available with the innovator.
2. New technologies for which patent/ IP related filings have been done (patent may not have been awarded) will also be eligible to participate. In this case, organization that has filed the patent should be the sole applicant or lead partner in case of a consortium/JV.

The applications will be evaluated by an Evaluation Committee constituted by MNRE having technical and financial experts of the sector including academic experts. Innovators will be evaluated/ assessed based on the following criteria:

Innovators scoring at least 75 percent marks as per the above marking scheme will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the scheme. Furthermore, the evaluation committee of MNRE may invite the applicants to make a presentation before the committee.

Finally, the innovators that are declared successful by the evaluation committee will be invited by the Ministry to install up to 50 number of improved standalone solar pumps as per the guidelines of the PM-KUSUM Scheme. Innovators that accept the invitation of the Ministry will be empanelled and allocated sites for the installation of solar pumps.

The participating companies will also provide a Comprehensive Maintenance Contract for the installed pump(s) for a period of 5 years.

After detailed examination and deliberations, the Evaluation Committee may recommend for adoption of specifications of innovative pump, with certain modifications, if required. Installed innovative pumps shall meet at least the existing MNRE performance standards. However, only the innovations showing substantial improvement from the MNRE specifications shall be considered for adoption. On recommendations of the Evaluation Committee, the MNRE may adopt the innovative technology and update the existing specification after having detailed stakeholders’ consultation on the same.

The last date for submission of the Expression of Interests is October 8, 2020.

For more details click here.