SECI Issues RFS for Vendors for Off-Grid Solar Pumping Systems with 1-10 HP

SECI Looks for Developers for Setting Up 2000 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Projects

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Central Public Sector Undertaking dedicated to the solar energy sector, has issued an RFS for selection of vendors under Component-B of PM-KUSUM Scheme of MNRE. This particular component looks at “installation of 20 lakh standalone solar powered agriculture pumps” and “CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar Agriculture pump will be provided.”

The vendors will look into the design, manufacture, supply, transport, installation, testing and commissioning of off-grid Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping Systems (SPWPS) of 1-10 HP capacities in selected States on PAN India basis, including complete system warranty and its repair and maintenance for 5 Years under Component-B of PM-KUSUM scheme of MNRE.

The tender fee is Rs 3,5500 and the pre-bid meeting is on 16.01.2023. Bids open on 03.03.2023. The bids’ submission end date (soft copy) is 28.02.2023 and 02.03.2023 (hard copy).

Solarisation of Pumps

India is looking to replace agriculture diesel pumps with solar water pumps and solarize grid-connected agriculture pumps at the same time. Currently, more than 30 million agricultural pumps have been installed in India. Of this number, 10 million are based on diesel. DISCOMs, however, may not be able to power pumps by connecting to grid because of the long waiting, which has necessitated the energising of these pumps by way of solar.

Currently, more than 20 million agriculture water pumps are connected to the grid and these draw over 17% of India’s cumulative yearly electricity consumption. With solarization of pumps, reliance on conventional sources of energy, supplied by DISCOMs will drop. Further, farmers will be in a position to sell of surplus energy to DISCOMs, enabling to earn additional income.

Recently, in a major announcement, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government is planning to provide the farmers of Maharashtra with solar pumps under PM-KUSUM.

Last year in November, under Component C of the Scheme, Rajasthan created the Saur Krishi Ajivika Yojna (SKAY) to encourage the development of decentralised solar projects at load centers with primarily agricultural usage in rural areas.