Pumping

The Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD) project, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) completed the 2019 Innovation challenge in the Pumps vertical.
The list of winners of FLCTD Innovation Challenge 2019 is available here: https://low-carbon-innovation.org/pumping-winners-2019

The Challenge was open for innovation in pumps, pumping systems and motors for grid-connected and/or off-grid application.

Innovation in Industrial and Domestic Pumps: Innovations that improve the efficiency of pumps that find application in industries, buildings, municipalities (water supply and sewage disposal). Pumps should demonstrate efficiency levels higher than those that are available in the market (e.g., greater than 5-star rated pumps) and in fluid delivery applications. Innovations could also focus on integrating intelligence in pumps which makes the system adaptive, commercially viable and improve overall ‘wire-to-water’ efficiency of the system.
Innovation in Agricultural Pumps and Pumping Systems: Innovations that demonstrate energy and water savings in agriculture pump or pumping systems. Solutions for efficient water utilization can include improved water-intake and delivery systems (pipes, valves, sprinkler, drip irrigation systems), and precision agriculture with smart-technologies for application in, but not limited to, agriculture, horticulture and agro-forestry.
Innovations in critical components of Pumps: Innovations in the design and construction of components such as impellers, diffusers, casing and component material that results in low life- cycle costs and higher efficiency. Innovations focusing on reducing the overall embodied energy in manufacturing processes of pumps, increasing the recyclability of various components and embedding electronics for overall system efficiency improvement.
Innovations in Motors: Innovations in design and material of construction that overcome constraints in the motor performance imposed by factors such as, but not limited to, voltage variations, frequency variations, power factor, high inrush current without compromising the performance of the motor. The design improvement should be targeted at developing an efficient pump for specific application in industry or in commercial and residential buildings. Motors, irrespective of their principle of operation and design technology, must demonstrate efficiencies higher than the IE4 efficiency class as defined by IEC 60034-30-1 (2014) for fixed speed motors, or IEC TS 60034-30-2 (2016) for variable speed motors respectively.

Innovations should clearly demonstrate reduction in energy consumption through efficiency improvement in the Pumps, Pumping Systems and Motor. This may include, but not limited to:

Design improvements that reduce energy consumption and overcome application constraints;
Emerging and novel technology applications that improves efficiency;
Improvement in material of construction, improvement in hydraulics;
Innovation in application of information and communication technologies demonstrating precision in controlling water delivery and maintain optimum efficiency level of the overall pumping system efficiency improvements
Design improvement in motors that overcome application constrain and can benefit industry in general including the pumps industry for diverse motor-driven systems in industrial, commercial and residential applications

Who can Participate

The innovation challenge is open to Entrepreneurs, Startups, Indian Technical Institutes / Universities, Research Institutes, Not-for-profit Organizations, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Industries, Public Sector Enterprises and Government Laboratories.
Consortiums of entrepreneurs and academic institutions with industry partnerships are highly encouraged to participate in the innovation challenge.
Innovation teams with women entrepreneurs will be given preference.

Incentives for Participation

Grant up to USD 50,000 for winning technology with provision for demonstration at multiple locations, wherever required
Performance Verification to establish the efficacy of innovative technology in-field working conditions
Business Acceleration and Mentoring support from industry experts;
Opportunity to Network with investors and industry stakeholders to publicize the innovation;
The winners of the Innovation Challenge will receive recognition from Bureau of Energy Efficiency and UNIDO;
Grant disbursement will be linked to specific progress-based milestones
30 % of the award grant will be given to the innovator winning the innovation challenge

50% after installation/commissioning of the innovation

20% at the end of the deployment phase, upon completion of Technology Verification Reporting

Parameters for Selection

This is only an indicative list, and is not exhaustive, and is subject to change and modification.

Nature of innovation (Product design/Process Innovation)
Addresses a key issue/technology gap in the industry
Replication potential
Energy saving and greenhouse gas emission reduction potential
Financials (pay-back period, Internal Rate of Return)
Technology readiness stage (R&D/ Prototype/Pilot demonstration/Commercial)
Intellectual Property Right / Patents (granted/applied)

General Guidelines, Terms, and Conditions

Participant shall submit solutions/product designs owned by them or to which they have right to claim and use as owned by them. Suitable documents to this effect must be submitted along with the entry.
Participant shall ensure that any submission made in the Challenge does not violate any of theirs or any third party's intellectual property rights, confidentiality, trade secret and violate any statutory provisions.
BEE, UNIDO, its employees, members of Expert Panel and organizers of this innovation challengeshall in no event be liable for any violation of IPR, or license or permits required from third party.
Participant shall not assign any rights, obligations, or privileges hereunder without the prior written consent of Organizers of the Challenge.
BEE, UNIDO, Organizers, members of Expert Panel, supporting organizations or any employee or agent shall not be liable for, any costs incurred or loss or liability or loss in expectation of profits or loss due to failure of understanding the terms and conditions of the Challenge or of any expected benefit of the participant in relation to entry and submission in the Challenge.
By way of selecting the entries for evaluation at any Stage or for Final Award, Participants shall not be entitled to claim or have got endorsement from BEE and UNIDO of any sought whatsoever or have earned approval of any sought whatsoever of BEE and UNIDO, for use in any form whatsoever anywhere in the Industry.
At any Stage while evaluating the entries, organizers shall be free to contact the Participants and carry out discussions on the matter submitted by the Participants and seek clarifications. Any solicitation by participants in whatever form in respect of their entries shall not be entertained and entries of such participant shall be disqualified from the Innovation Challenge.
BEE/UNIDO/Organizers may change the Terms and Conditions of participation at any time without prior notice. It shall be sole responsibility of the Participants to update themselves of information posted in the website from time to time.
BEE/UNIDO/Organizers may disqualify a Participants from the Challenge for breach of any of the conditions of this Challenge or discontinue this Challenge.

Pumps & Pumping Systems