EESL issues tender for 317,975 solar pumps to be installed nationwide

The last date for submission of bids is 4 February 2021. Prospective bidders are expected to pay Rs25,000 towards bid document cost.

In all, 317,975 pumps are slated for installation across 30 states and five union territories.

The scope of work includes design, manufacture, supply, transport, installation, testing, and commissioning of off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems (SPWPS) of 1-10 HP, including complete system warranty, repair, and maintenance for five years.

The empanelled firm must install and commission  SPWPS within 90 days of NTP (Notice to Proceed) issuance for general category states. However, for special category states, hill states, union territories, and island union territories, the empanelled firm must complete the installation and commissioning within 120 days of the NTP issuance.

Only indigenously manufactured photovoltaic modules and pumps should be used in the programme. ‘Made in India’ must be mentioned on solar panels and pumps. Systems must meet technical specifications and construction standards specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards and MNRE.

The winning bidder must ensure timely maintenance of the systems and train a local person while making necessary spare parts and tools available in each district. The vendor must have one authorised service centre in each operational district and a helpline in English, Hindi, or the state’s regional language where the SPWPS are installed.

The prospective bidder should be a manufacturer of solar modules, solar pumps, or pump controllers using indigenous technology. Firms involved in engineering, procurement, and construction of similar works can enter a joint venture with the manufacturers.

The bidder’s net worth as on the last day of the preceding financial year (2018-19 or 2019-20) should not be less than 100 per cent of the paid-up share capital. The bidder should be profitable in at least two of the last four financial years.

In 2019, EESL had invited bids for off-grid solar water pump systems across India under (PM KUSUM) programme to promote solar in agriculture. In all, 181,200 solar pumps were slated to be installed across the country, categorised under clusters in each state.

In 2019, MNRE had issued an amendment to the guidelines for implementing the KUSUM programme, which would help solarise agriculture. Only manufacturers of solar water pumps or solar modules were allowed to participate in the bidding process.

There are estimated 21 million grid connected agricultural pump sets in India which consume about 187 billion kWh of energy every year, accounting for about 18% of national energy consumption. Power consumption in the pumping sector is expected to rise immensely by 2022. Managing agricultural load is increasingly becoming a challenge for electric utilities in India. Subsidised tariffs generate a perception of zero marginal cost for electricity use and consequently, efficiency in consumption is disregarded. Upgrading of existing pumping systems presents an immediate need and an unprecedented opportunity.

Implementation of this programme is crucial as energy bills for agricultural pump sets are being paid by the government in the form of subsidies. Energy savings therefore directly benefit government / Discoms. Measures to improve energy efficiency in the agricultural sector include replacement of foot valves, control panel, optimum sizing of pumps and replacement of inefficient pump sets with BEE 5-star rated energy efficient pumps.

EESL is implementing the Energy Efficient Pump Programme to distribute BEE 5-star energy efficient agricultural pumps and ensures a minimum of 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption with smart control panels, which can be remotely operated to enhance the ease of operation of pumps by the farmers. Pilot projects has been completed in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan.

The AgDSM project for replacement of old pumps with BEE 5-star rated pumps has started from the state of Andhra Pradesh and as on date over 74,000 pumps have been installed in the state of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.