SMALL GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE SOLAR ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS 2022 & EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION TO 23RD SEPTEMBER 4PM.

INTRODUCTION:-

The general goal of International Solar Innovation Council (InSIC) is to promote accelerated and rapid transition to solar energy age in Asian and African Countries. To this end, InSIC aims to: foster a spirit of partnership and co-operation among solar energy activists and other stakeholders in Asia and Africa; to establish an operative network to stakeholders. identify the areas where research works are needed to ensure large scale deployment of Solar products. enhance quality of products and R&D efforts by connecting entrepreneurs with local technology testing capability, enhancing innovative linkages. enhance knowledge sharing through effective dissemination of information, access to suppliers, advance business and market transformation of solar energy products, devices, systems and services. act as agent managers, trustees for any society, association or body, local or international, directly or indirectly related to or engaged in solar energy research. establish a sustainable, scaled up market for implementation of new solar energy projects in the Asian and African countries which would also enhance regional co-operation in Asia and Africa. partner with Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank to promote need based solar energy research for the rural and urban people living below the poverty line. educate proactively the various relevant government authorities to diminish any barriers that may affect the development of solar energy. work closely with the relevant governments, semi governments authorities, associations, organisations or social entrepreneurs to prepare and formulate policies that will help advance development and growth of solar energy in Asia and Africa. undertake research, studies on issues concerning policy barriers, technological advancements in the solar energy sector of Asia and Africa and to organise seminars, symposiums, fairs, exhibitions, workshops and training to enhance the knowledge base about clean energy in Asia and Africa. develop regional co-operation on research and development of solar energy devices suitable for different agro-climatic conditions of Asia and Africa keeping in view the local culture. Scope of the Call For Grant Applications The aim of the grant is to support development of innovative systems and applications based on solar energy. The solutions should be products that are directly applicable for scaling up and mass production. Projects should combine solar energy with certain applications in e.g. fields of agriculture, irrigation, clean cooking (solar or solar-assisted), cooling of houses, water and sanitation, reduction of air pollution or improving productivity. In this call, we especially invite applications aiming to provide clean solar cooking energy solutions for the World’s 200 million poorest families. The aim is to find solutions that, in the long term, could reach the cost level of < 10 EUR per cooking unit sufficient to serve a family in industrial or artisanal mass production. If the solution includes solar panels, the cost of the panel can be excluded from the cost target, as the cost of solar panels are expected to decrease. Solutions that include locally produced parts/elements are preferred. Project may involve solar photovoltaics, solar thermal or other technologies. Project should demonstrate how the idea can be implemented. It should also discuss the target market and potential impact for users if implemented as foreseen. Project should have a duration between 6 and 18 months. Majority of the grant funding (> 90 %) should be spent in the global south. The project will be financed by a grant, and the budget shall be maximum 5 000 €. The budget should include a minimum of 10% own contribution. Eligibility criteria for the grant applicants The applicant can be any legal entity Examples of organisations, which are encouraged to submit proposals: Small-scale industries Start-ups Research institutes Students Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Applicant should have some track record for project implementation Applicant must have carried out at least one externally funded project Applicant should have a demonstrated capacity of carrying out the proposed work and capability for complying with the required financial reporting Applicant should be able to describe the working methods of financial reporting and to prove the competence of the persons responsible for financial reporting Applicant is required to submit a recent financial statement or equivalent proof of the financial status of the legal entity Selection criteria Level of innovation The idea should include a novel, innovative aspect, which has not been implemented /demonstrated similarly before The innovative aspect may be related to one or more of the following: Understanding the user needs Education and training Finance Networking - bringing together diverse stakeholders Application development (including social aspects) Technological development Potential impact of the idea to increase local livelihood in rural areas Scalability and repeatability of the solution How many people could potentially benefit of the solution? Can the solution be replicated in other areas/countries? Economic, environmental and social sustainability Ideas that benefit the less privileged people are preferred The idea should have the potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution Recyclability and reusability of the materials and replaceability of the components The idea should have a potential to be economically viable in the foreseeable future Involvement of the users and the local community How have the users been involved in defining the solution? Simplicity of the solution and easiness of use and maintenance.

Interested institutions are encouraged to go through the Guide for Applicants document (pdf) for information about the aims of InSIC in general, the scope of the grant program, as well as the eligibility criteria of applicants and evaluation criteria for the proposals. Institutional applicants should have the application endorsed by the Head of the organization. The applications shall be submitted by sending completed Submission Forms of the proposed project electronically (in PDF format) by email to: applications@solarinnovations.org. The deadline for submitting the grant applications is at 4:00pm GMT on Friday September 23rd, 2022,