Solar System for Water Pumping Station

1. BACKGROUND “Saving Water, Growing Crops” (Swat) is a Swedish Postcode Foundation and EU-funded project that aims for the promotion of an innovative irrigation technology that is expected to bring significant water savings in the target agricultural areas within the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR), thus enhancing the target communities’ resilience to the water-related effects of climate change. The irrigation system relies on two water sources: a) rainwater that is been harvested during the winter season in two ponds of total capacity of 9000 cubic meter, and b) an established well that nourishes the ponds during the irrigation season to satisfy the needs of the plants in the fields connected to the system. A pumping test has been carried out to assess the critical yield of the well. Based on the test results, the technical specifications of the pump required to fulfil the water demand for the system were identified.

2. OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE Lebanon is currently facing a severe economic crisis, two effects of which are the lack of consistent supply of electricity through the national power grids and the skyrocketing prices of fuel. In Mrusti, the irrigation relies on a pumping station that is currently disconnected from the solar panel system. Instead, an old diesel generator, which is not properly dimensioned, runs the water pump. The emission of GHGs is significant. This situation is therefore not only environmentally but also socially and financially unsustainable. The aim of this intervention is to properly dimension and rehabilitate the solar system to run the pumping station, which provides water to the 2 hill lakes. The water collected will be distributed to the agricultural lands for irrigation purposes. Furthermore, the installation of the solar system will contribute to zero carbon emission and will function as a catalyst for the dissemination of the use of renewable resources in the area of intervention and as a mean to raise the awareness in the community about the advantages of adopting eco-friendly solutions and the positive impact on health and environment. The purpose of this intervention will be; a. Providing water during the irrigation season by running a water pumping station on solar system, thus avoiding any electric interruption or fuel shortage b. Reducing energy cost c. Shifting to green energy to reduce air pollution d. Reducing pumping time by replacing the existing pump with a more powerful pump e. Eliminating losses in the pipes connecting the well to the ponds by replacing the 2” pipe with 4” pipe

3. TIME TABLE After publishing the tender, the deadline for submitting the proposals is on the 19th of May, 2023. A site visit will be held by the candidates to assess the existing solar system and the surrounding area on 28th April, 2023, 10 AM Beirut time. Based on that and on the technical specifications provided for the pump, a technical proposal and financial offer should be submitted. The notification of award and rejection will be sent on 15th May, 2023. The awarded company will have 6 weeks for completion of all the works from the date of signing the contract.

4. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES The below are expected deliverables. a) Final design of the solar panel system as integration/expansion of the existing solar system b) Provision and installation of new solar panels and set up of the new system, including electrical board c) Supplying and installing a 10 l/s pump based on the technical specifications provided. The pump will be running on a hybrid, newly established solar system and on the national power. d) Supplying and installing a 4” pipe from the well to the pump e) Weekly technical report covering the work implemented

5. DELIVERY DATES The assignment is expected to take 6 weeks in total. The below is an indicative timeframe of the key deliverables. The contractor is expected to propose a reasonable work plan as part of the technical offer