Greentech Lead India: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has called for expression of interest for empanelment of private companies, organizations, agencies, government companies, PSUs, semi-government organizations and micro-finance institutions for a Rural Area Energy Access Program and Solar Based Rural Energy Access Work.
The program aims to provide access to electricity in rural areas mainly through deployment of off-grid electricity generation system using any kind of renewable energy source. It will cover un-electrified census villages and hamlets where power availability is less than 6 hours per day averaged over the year.
It will benefit all households in the eligible village/hamlets, including those in the Dalit Bastis of the village (approx. 100w per household and some additional load for streetlight and productive load). The scheme will be implemented by setting of MINI/MICRO GRID wherever possible.
Other modes will be small power plants for individual household or neighborhood consisting of two or more families on ownership basis. For scattered population areas, the government also plans to provide standalone solar lighting systems for the willing households.
The Ministry is seeking bids from organizations or agencies that have a minimum three years of experience of working in the area of energy access in rural areas after the registration and having an average annual turnover of at least 05 crore in each of the last three financial years (2010-11, 2011-12 & 2012-3).
Once empanelled, the organization/ agency may remain on the panel for a period of three years, subject to annual review, a note from the Ministry said.
Picture source: businessweek.com