MNRE Floats EOI for 50 Innovative Solar Pumps Under PM-KUSUM

Continuing with its efforts to encourage innovation in the solar pumps industry, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has published an expression of interest (EoI)inviting innovators to demonstrate their inventions. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) program, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited bids for the installation of 50 inventive solar pumps.

For five years, the winning bidder will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the installed pumps. The goal of the request for expressions of interest is to encourage innovation in solar pumps by allowing innovators to demonstrate their innovations in actual field settings.

With a target of 27.50 lakh grid connected and off grid solar pumps with a capacity of upto 7.5 HP, the PMKUSUM scheme is one of the largest initiatives seeking the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector, with a separate budget allocation of Rs 34, 422 crores from the centre). The scheme has struggled to move fast enough for the centre’s liking, owing to multiple challenges of coordination, supplies, and other issues so far. As far as innovative pumps go, the ministry has been pushing since 2019 for more options for farmers from inventors, as it seeks higher domestic players in the field.

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The last date for submitting the bid for this 50 solar power pump project is August 18, 2022, and bids will be opened on the same day.

By 2025–2026, the MNRE program will assist the installation of 20 lakhs standalone solar pumps with a maximum horsepower of 7.5 HP. Only cutting-edge products that can be tested in real-world settings will be permitted to participate.

The inventor ought to have the test results for the enhanced solar pumping system available. New technologies that have applications submitted for intellectual property (IP) patents but may not yet have those patents granted are also allowed to participate. In this situation, the patent-filing organisation should be the only applicant or the principal partner in any consortium or joint venture.

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The ministry will invite innovators deemed successful by the evaluation committee to install up to 50 upgraded standalone solar pumps by the PM-KUSUM program’s rules. If innovators accept the ministry’s invitation, they will be appointed and given locations to set up solar pumps.

The prototype stage, testing, field trial completion (must be supported by evidence), and commercial production are some examples of the stages of technology development. After such pumps are installed, the field demonstration will continue for at least a year, during which time the pump’s performance will be tracked in real-time.

Bidders can view/download this Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) 50 solar water pumps tender documents consisting of notice inviting tender, the invitation to bidders, scope of work, bidding documents, general terms, and conditions of contract, erection conditions of contract, annexures, and technical specification here.

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Last year in December, Haryana’s department of new and renewable energy gave 75% subsidy in the purchase of 3-10 horse power (HP) solar-powered pumps also.