Government’s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has issued a tender to procure 272,579 solar water pumping systems for member countries of International Solar Alliance (ISA). The bid submission deadline is July 1, 2019.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar water pumping systems. The successful bidder will also provide maintenance services.

This is the first large solar pumps tender issued in 2019. In December 2018, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had issued a tender for 50,000 solar water pumping systems. These solar water pumps were to be installed at projects sites of identified farmers in the state.

In August 2018, the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (NREDCAP) issued a tender for 25,000 off-grid solar PV water pumping systems. Out of 25,000 solar pumping systems, 20,000 were to be AC solar pump sets and 5,000 were to be equipped with DC motor.

In the same month, Himachal Pradesh cabinet approved ₹2.24 billion (~$32.6 million) for its ‘Saur Sinchayee Yojana’ program, which was aimed at providing 5,850 agricultural solar pumping sets to farmers in the hilly state.

Then in July 2018, the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited (TSREDCO) had invited a tender for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of solar PV water pumping systems across the state.

In December 2017, the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) also issued a tender to procure and set up 1,013 five horsepower (hp) solar-powered water pumps.

In April 2019, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued draft specifications and testing procedures for universal solar pump controllers (USPC). Recently, the central government approved the launch of the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) program for farmers. This program is aimed at helping the farmers install solar pumps and grid-connected solar power projects, which in turn would provide financial and water security to farmers.

Image credit: JREDA