Opportunity for UNDP/MNRE Project on Enhancing Access to Clean Energy

The aim of the Project is to accelerate access to energy services particularly for increasing livelihoods of the poor and marginalized in the seven UNDAF states (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).

The objective of the Project is strengthening technical, institutional, financing, delivery and servicing capability/ infrastructure needed to address the key barriers for up scaling of technically proven & financially viable renewable energy applications.

As part of this Project, the Ministry invites, Expression of Interest (EOI) and concept note from Technology suppliers: Corporate houses, Equipment Manufacturers and Contractors, NGOs, Self Help Groups, Users Associations, Individual entrepreneurs, Registered Societies, Cooperatives, Consortiums/SPVs /JVs etc. to provide support for piloting of innovative/new RET based projects and development of business models which can be up-scaled.

Technical assistance for awareness generation, capacity building and action research for development and promotion of RET will also be provided under the project. While the UNDP project primarily focuses on the 7 UNDAF states, piloting of new RET will be supported in all states of India.

The type of projects that would be supported are the following:

• Support for piloting of innovative / new RET based projects and development of business models for upscaling.
• Support for upscaling of pilot tested / technically proven and commercially viable entrepreneurship based models for deployment of RETs

Technical assistance for awareness generation, capacity building and action research for development and promotion of RET on both the above streams will be provided under the project. 

Mainstreaming of renewable energy technologies would need a concerted effort from all stakeholders ? State Governments, private and public sector manufacturers of equipment, private project developers, financial institutions, academic and research institutes, non-governmental organizations, as well as multilateral and bilateral agencies. Keeping this in mind, the following types of project developers are eligible to apply for project funds:

• Technology suppliers
• Corporate houses
• Equipment Manufacturers and Contractors
• NGOs
• Self Help Groups, Users Associations
• Individual entrepreneurs
• Registered Societies
• Cooperatives
• Panchayats
• Local bodies
• Consortiums / SPVs / JVs

The following principles would be adhered for screening eligible project ideas:

• Technology neutral: All types of RETs would be eligible.
• Location: The proposed model will have to be implemented in 7 UNDAF States (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, preferably in the districts as given in Annexure-II)
• User profile neutral: Any type of end users proposed in the project would be eligible.
• Commercially viable and scalable business model: The proposed project idea should be cost effective, scalable, replicable, financially viable entrepreneurship based business & delivery model for up scaling deployment of pro-poor RET projects  that strengthen livelihoods and enhance economic development.

Therefore, please feel encouraged to share this opportunity directly with potentially interested companies or your national contact points that might be in direct contact with relevant companies.

The link for the project information is as follows: http://www.winrockindia.org/Eoi&Concept.htm 

We will need to send the compiled list of suitable technology/solution providers to the MNRE by Thursday, 30th of June, 2011. Thus, any potentially interested companies can directly get in contact with us.