New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in collaboration with the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and Startup India, DPIIT, has announced the launch of the Innovative Projects StartUp Challenge to accelerate the development of Rooftop Solar (RTS) and Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) technologies.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging startups to develop breakthrough clean-tech solutions, with applications open until 20th August 2025.
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Innovative Projects StartUp Challenge: Transforming Rooftop Solar and Renewable Energy
The Innovative Projects StartUp Challenge has been designed to identify and support innovative solutions in four focus areas:
- Affordability – Reducing costs through innovative financing, modular designs, and circular economy approaches.
- Resilience – Enhancing climate adaptation, cybersecurity, and decentralized energy systems.
- Inclusivity – Expanding renewable energy access for low-income households, renters, and rural communities.
- Environmental Sustainability – Addressing challenges such as e-waste, land-use conflicts, and fossil fuel dependency.
Eligibility and Stakeholders
All DPIIT-recognized startups are eligible to apply for the challenge.
Stakeholders include accelerators, incubators, investors, mentors, and startups at various stages— from ideation to scaling.
Relevant industries include renewable energy, green technology, IT services, IoT, nanotechnology, waste management, AI, and more.
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Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Incentives
The winners of the Innovative Projects StartUp Challenge will receive significant fiscal rewards:
- 1st Prize: ₹1 crore
- 2nd Prize: ₹50 lakh
- 3rd Prize: ₹30 lakh
- 10 Consolation Prizes: ₹5 lakh each
Beyond monetary awards, winners will gain incubation support from MNRE through NISE, pilot implementation opportunities, and capacity-building assistance.
Problem Statements and Opportunity Areas
The challenge outlines specific problem areas and invites startups to propose innovative solutions, such as:
- Affordable financing models like solar leasing, crowdfunding, and microloans.
- Drone-based inspections, robotic cleaning, and AI-powered monitoring for solar maintenance.
- Grid-forming inverters, decentralized microgrids, and cybersecurity solutions for resilient energy systems.
- Community solar, virtual net metering, and blockchain-based billing for inclusivity.
- Sustainable solutions for e-waste recycling, floating solar, agrivoltaics, and hybrid energy systems.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Innovative Projects StartUp Challenge is 20th August 2025. For queries, participants may contact:
Organisation: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Contact Person: Ashish Batham, Under Secretary
Email: ashish.batham@nic.in
