The Renewable Energy Project is supporting two types of solar thermal installations: Solar Water Heaters and Solar Dryers. The REP support on solar dryers for agro businesses and solar water heaters for community centers, health posts and schools. The procurement process in the following flow chart.

Implementation flow chart

District selected for the implementation of thermal projects.

The implementation of thermal application focuses on the districts having: a) potential for income generating activities: agro and tourism businesses which are proven but under-developed, b) presence of other donor-supported projects, c) absence of other energy sources and d) Low Human Development Index

For solar dryers, districts where REAP, MEDEP and ACAP are operational and involved in the promotion of agro business are considered as particularly propitious for project implementation. Similarly, for the hot water supply, the REP was looking for community centers located along the trekking routes and coordinated with the TRPAP and ACAP.  For solar cookers, that were in the scope of the REP from start, were removed from the program during consolidation

 The figure shows the districts initially selected for solar thermal projects. Out of these, COs in nine district were recommended for REP support.

Information dissemination and demand collection
REP conducted an extensive information campaign whose aim has to draw as many eligible demand for Solar Thermal System as possible. To this effect, the project:

• Distributed of Info-leaflet about Solar Thermal Systems { Solar Dryers, Solar Water Heaters, Solar Cookers }.
• Coordinated activities with other donor projects working in the selected district (TRPAP, REAP, MEDEP etc).
• Broadcasted information on REP in Radio program: “HamroUrja” - AEPC sponsored.
• Conducted social mobilization.
• Advertised in three dailies at two occasions. 
• As a result of the information campaign, 207 applications for solar systems were received. All received applications were assessed in term of basic eligibility criteria. The applied eligibility criteria were:
• Community based institutional set-up,
• size of system demanded - Solar Dryer: drying demand of around 40 -50 kg per day, Solar Water Heater: 500 liters ).
• Number of Beneficiaries Solar Dryer ≥ 20 persons Solar Water Heater ≥ 10 persons.

Feasibility survey 
feasibility study was conducted for all eligible project applications. The feasibility studies addressed both technical and socio-economic conditions.  The following technical parameters were considered.

• Solar Radiation Condition
• Shading Condition
• Climatic Condition
• Geological Condition
• Basic Infrastructure Condition
• Types of Produce.

 Similarly, the following aspects were assessed with respect to socio-economic conditions 

• Institutional eligibility
• Maturity of CO
• Understanding of tariffs/operating fund–Market Linkage of CO
• Accessibility to the Market
• Understanding of need of market.

Consolidation
During consolidation, it was recognized that very few feasible projects and suppliers for solar cookers had been identified and the risk for an unsuccessful tender of cookers was judged to be significant. It was therefore decided to remove solar cookers from the scope of the project feasible applications were however considered to the AEPC who is undertaking promotion of Solar Cooker through its regular program.

Similarly, more than 41 percent of the eligible projects for solar dryers and 50 percent of water heaters were discarded due to either of the following reason:

• Demand for private Use
• Demanded capacity of the system was too low
• Technically infeasible
• CO not judged to be capable of sustaining the operation of the system

Sustainability Issue
The sustainability of Solar Thermal System largely depends on the capacity of the user to carry out maintenance, and to use the equipment to its full potentials. For this reason, REP foreseen that the supplier of the system shall carry out on-site 2-3 day training during installation related to maintenance and system operation. In addition, REP will provide training on food processing, market and general management of group affair.

Syayem commissioning
A brochure on solar drying will complement the capacity building efforts and provide guidelines and directives for CO to maximize the use of solar dryer.