MNRE Solar Thermal Proposal 2026: Who Can Get Up to ₹2 Crore Support?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited proposals for Concentrating Solar Thermal Technology for Indian Industry.

The new initiative aims to help Indian industries use solar energy for their heating needs. It can help industries reduce their use of fossil fuels and move towards cleaner energy.

The proposal window is now open, and interested organizations need to submit their proposals by 7 October 2026.

What is the MNRE Solar Thermal Proposal 2026?

Many industries need heat for their daily operations. This heat is often produced using fuels such as coal, gas and other fossil fuels.

MNRE wants to promote the use of solar thermal technology to provide this industrial heat.

Under this initiative, MNRE will support pilot and demonstration projects that can show how solar thermal technology can be used in real industrial applications.

The focus is not only on developing technology but also on finding solutions that can be used on a larger scale.

Up to ₹2 Crore Financial Support

One of the biggest highlights of this proposal call is the financial support available for eligible projects.

Eligible applicants can receive up to 50% of the project cost, subject to a maximum support of ₹2 crore per project.

The actual amount of support will depend on the project and its evaluation.

This funding can help companies and organizations test and demonstrate solar thermal solutions without having to bear the entire project cost themselves.

Who Can Apply?

The proposal call is mainly aimed at organizations working with solar thermal technology.

This includes:

• Industries
• Start-ups
• Private institutes
• Entrepreneurs
• Technology developers
• Solar thermal manufacturers

Beneficiary industries can also participate through a consortium model where applicable.

Which Solar Thermal Technologies Are Covered?

MNRE has identified several solar thermal technologies that can be used for industrial applications.

Parabolic Trough

Parabolic trough systems can provide heat in the range of around 60°C to 400°C.

They can be useful for industries that require medium- to high-temperature process heat.

Linear Fresnel

Linear Fresnel systems can provide heat of around 60°C to 250°C.

They can be used for applications such as process heating and steam generation.

Parabolic Dish

Parabolic dish systems can provide temperatures of around 100°C to 500°C.

They can be considered for industries that need higher-temperature heat.

Power Tower

Power tower systems can provide temperatures of around 150°C to 600°C and can be useful for high-temperature industrial applications.

Solar PV + Heat Pump

Solar PV combined with heat pump technology is another possible solution for providing clean heat to industries.

Thermal Energy Storage

Solar thermal systems can also be combined with Thermal Energy Storage (TES).

Energy storage can help industries use stored heat even when sunlight is not available.

Which Industries Can Benefit?

Solar thermal technology can be useful for many industries that need heat as part of their production process.

Some of the sectors mentioned by MNRE include:

• Food processing
• Dairy
• Textile
• Pharmaceuticals
• Chemicals
• Cement
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Iron and steel
• Paper
• Plastics
• Rubber
• Breweries
• Automobile
• Hospitality

Solar heat can be used for processes such as drying, cleaning, cooking, evaporation, distillation, pasteurization, sterilization and water heating.

What Kind of Projects Will MNRE Support?

MNRE is looking for projects that can demonstrate the practical use of solar thermal technology in Indian industries.

Projects should focus on areas such as:

• Reducing fossil fuel use
• Using solar heat in industrial processes
• Improving energy efficiency
• Showing commercial viability
• Developing scalable solutions
• Demonstrating real-world applications

The idea is to develop solutions that can later be adopted by more industries.

Important Deadline for Applications

Companies and organizations interested in this opportunity should keep the following dates in mind:

Proposal submission starts: 8 September 2026
Last date to submit: 7 October 2026

This means applicants have a limited time to prepare and submit their project proposals.

Where Can You Submit the Proposal?

Interested applicants can submit their proposals through the MNRE research portal.

The official portal is:

research.mnre.gov.in

Applicants should carefully read the official MNRE guidelines and notification before submitting their proposal.

Why Is This Initiative Important?

Industrial heating is an important part of many manufacturing processes. At present, a large amount of industrial heat is produced using fossil fuels.

Solar thermal technology can provide an alternative source of heat using sunlight.

If these pilot projects are successful, they could help industries reduce fuel consumption and lower their carbon emissions.

It could also help India develop more practical solutions for using solar energy beyond electricity generation.

What Should Applicants Keep Ready?

Organizations planning to apply should clearly explain their project and how the proposed technology will be used.

The proposal should focus on important points such as:

• The industrial application
• Solar thermal technology being used
• Expected heat requirement
• Project cost
• Expected fossil fuel savings
• Technical feasibility
• Commercial potential
• Scalability of the project

A clear and practical project plan can help demonstrate the value of the proposed solution.

Conclusion

The MNRE Solar Thermal Proposal 2026 is an important opportunity for industries, start-ups, technology developers and other eligible organizations working on solar thermal solutions.

With financial support of up to 50% of the project cost, subject to a maximum of ₹2 crore, the initiative can help companies test and demonstrate new solar thermal applications.

The most important date to remember is 7 October 2026, which is the proposal submission deadline.

Organizations interested in this opportunity should check the official MNRE notification and guidelines carefully before applying.