The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has issued a tender for 104 submersible solar pumps in several tribal villages spread across various districts in Gujarat.

These locations come under Dang, Narmada (under Tapi district), Navsari, Narmada, and Vadodara divisions.

Under the Dang division, the number of pumps allocated is ten, Navsari has been allocated ten pumps, 34 solar pumps have been decided for the Vadodara division. Similarly, for the Narmada under the Tapi district, 31 solar pumps have been allocated, and 19 will be installed under the Narmada division.

The last date for the submission of bids is November 25, 2019.

The scope of work includes the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar base pumping machinery with solar panels, mounting structure, dual pump hand pump. All the equipment to be installed for the commissioning of solar PV water pumping systems with a modified hand pump should be under the comprehensive maintenance contract (CMC) for five years.

The maintenance of the solar PV water pumping system with a modified hand pump includes routine and periodic maintenance, overhauling, breakdown maintenance, and repairing or replacement of defective items and other components.

The work also involves the construction of the platform for a rotational molded polyethylene water storage tank with a capacity of 3,000 liters.

Interested bidders should have an average turnover of ₹5.9 million ($82,032) in the last three financial years to be able to participate in this tender.

The technical specification for the solar PV submersible water pump systems includes a submersible pump with a capacity of 675 Wp. The pumping head should be 60 meters, and the overall efficiency of the pump should be a minimum of 45%.

The supply, erection, and construction of the project should be completed within a maximum duration of four months.

The successful bidder has to liaison with the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) for the issuance of documents like installation certificate and satisfactory working of the equipment during the defect liability period.

Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued guidelines for the implementation of Component-C of Pradhan Mantri Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) program that aims to promote solar in agriculture with the help of grid-connected pumps.

In 2018, Mercom reported that the farmers of Mujkuva village of Anklav taluka near Anand in Gujarat shunned the conventional electricity and adopted solar to irrigate their agricultural fields.

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) issued two tenders for the supply and installation of 5,000 small solar irrigation pumps and 700 solar trees in the state.

Image credit: Amrut Energy