{"id":4841,"date":"2025-05-23T09:11:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T09:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.switchon.org.in\/newsite\/?post_type=press_release&p=4841"},"modified":"2025-05-26T03:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T03:05:17","slug":"rfp-promoting-green-steel","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/www.switchon.org.in\/newsite\/press_release\/rfp-promoting-green-steel\/","title":{"rendered":"Request for Proposal (RFP) for Decarbonising the Steel Sector and Promoting Green Steel in Eastern India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RFP No : SON\/GS\/2025-01<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Established in 2008, <\/span>SwitchON Foundation<\/b> is a prominent non-profit organisation dedicated to Environmental Sustainability and Equal Opportunities. With a footprint across 10 Indian states, the Foundation drives impactful initiatives in Clean Energy Access, Sustainable Agriculture, Skilling, Clean Air, and Sustainable Cities. Its core competencies lie in innovative project execution, capacity building, on-ground implementation, community awareness, and evidence-based advocacy. With a vision to transform 10 million lives, SwitchON champions sustainability and innovation to foster better livelihoods, enhanced well-being, and a healthier planet for all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Skills and Just Transition<\/b> is a flagship programme of SwitchON Foundation aimed at equipping youth with green skills to enable employment and entrepreneurship. Leveraging digital platforms and smart skill centres, the programme contributes to the development of a sustainable economy. It works in alignment with government schemes and global innovations to promote a fair and inclusive transition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under this programme, the <\/span>Low Carbon Steel initiative<\/b>\u2014formally titled <\/span>“Decarbonising the Steel Sector and Promoting Green Steel in Eastern India”<\/span><\/i>\u2014focuses on catalysing the transition to low-carbon steel production, particularly within the MSME steel sector in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The initiative is driven by robust research comprising both secondary sources (such as academic and industry publications) and primary inputs (including Key Informant Interviews and stakeholder engagements).<\/span><\/p>\n

A key insight emerging from this research highlights the <\/span>critical need for energy audits<\/b> in MSME steel units. Presently, there is a pronounced lack of transparency regarding energy consumption patterns in these facilities, often resulting in inefficiencies and overuse. Energy audits present a targeted solution to these issues by generating actionable intelligence on operational inefficiencies. These insights can inform MSMEs on how to optimise energy use, lower operational costs, and lay the groundwork for their decarbonisation journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

The objective of this Request for Proposal (RfP) is to identify and onboard a <\/span>technically competent and experienced agency<\/b> to undertake investment-grade energy audits for MSME steel units. The selected agency will be responsible for recommending practical interventions and supporting the development of a strategic roadmap for energy efficiency and low-carbon transition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

1. Industry Profile for Energy Audit<\/h4>\n

Energy audits are being commissioned for four MSME-scale steel manufacturing units located in Jharkhand and West Bengal. Techno-commercial Proposals are being invited from qualified agencies for undertaking comprehensive electrical and thermal energy audits across these units.<\/span><\/p>\n

The selected facilities represent a range of MSME steel operations, where manufacturing processes such as <\/span>sponge iron production, billet casting, TMT bar rolling, wire rod and binding wire manufacturing, and refractory material processing<\/b> are being carried out. The primary materials produced include <\/span>sponge iron, billets, TMT bars, HB wire, binding wire, and refractory bricks<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key equipment in use includes <\/span>blast furnace (BF), induction furnace (IF), <\/b> <\/span>electric arc furnaces (EAFs)<\/b>, <\/span>crushers<\/b>, <\/span>grinders<\/b>, <\/span>mixers<\/b>, <\/span>electric\/hydraulic screw presses<\/b>, <\/span>rolling mills<\/b>, and <\/span>high-temperature tunnel kilns<\/b>. Significant <\/span>electrical loads<\/b> are observed across units, often with issues related to <\/span>power factor, harmonics<\/b>, and <\/span>voltage imbalance<\/b>. On the thermal side, substantial <\/span>heat loss<\/b> is reported due to <\/span>interrupted processes<\/b>, <\/span>frequent sampling<\/b>, and <\/span>inefficient firing systems<\/b>, particularly in kilns and furnaces.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

2. Scope of Work<\/h4>\n

The objective is to conduct in-depth energy audits across selected MSME steel mills and develop mill-specific decarbonisation roadmaps. The scope includes:<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy Audits (Electrical & Thermal):<\/b><\/p>\n