India added a cumulative 691.4 MW of solar capacity till June 30, 2022, through the installation of standalone solar pumps and solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps under the PM-KUSUM Scheme. The states of Rajasthan (282.6 MW) and Haryana (246.5 MW) led in PV capacity addition through both modes under the scheme.
Power minister RK Singh shared this information in the lower parliament today.
The PM KUSUM Scheme, under its Component-B, supports farmers in installing standalone solar agriculture pumps of up to 7.5 HP to replace their existing diesel agriculture pumps in off-grid areas.
Under Component-C of the scheme, individual farmers having grid-connected agriculture pumps are supported to solarise their pumps. The farmer can use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and sell the excess solar power to distribution companies at a pre-fixed tariff.
A 2016-17 survey by the agriculture ministry estimated India to have 11.2 million diesel agricultural pumps. As of June 30, the nation had installed 123,180 standalone solar pumps under Component-B of the Scheme. These solar pumps are estimated to reduce 85 million liters of diesel consumption per annum.
Cumulatively, the nation had installed 385,000 standalone solar pumps till June 30, including the solar pumps installed under PM-KUSUM Scheme.
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