News: India will scale up PM-KUSUM and showcase it across developing nations through the International Solar Alliance to expand irrigation access, energy security, and clean power.
About PM-KUSUM
- Full form: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan
- It is a government scheme for farmers to install solar pumps and grid-connected solar and other renewable power plants in India.
- Launched in: It was launched in 2019.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Aim: It is aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India, along with honouring India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40% by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
- It has 3 components:
- Component-A: For Setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.
- Under this component, renewable energy based power plants (REPP) of capacity 500 kW to 2 MW will be setup by individual farmers/ group of farmers/ cooperatives/ panchayats/ Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)/Water User associations (WUA) on barren/fallow land.
- These power plants can also be installed on cultivable land on stilts where crops can also be grown below the solar panels.
- The renewable energy power project will be installed within five km radius of the sub-stations in order to avoid high cost of sub-transmission lines and to reduce transmission losses.
- The power generated will be purchased by local DISCOM at pre-fixed tariff.
- Component-B: For Installation of 17.50 Lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps.
- Under this Component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP for replacement of existing diesel Agriculture pumps / irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supply is not available.
- Pumps of capacity higher than 7.5 HP can also be installed, however, the financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity
- Component-C: For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps.
- Under this Component, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pump will be supported to solarise pumps.
- The farmer will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs at pre-fixed tariff
- Component-A: For Setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.
- Eligibility for the Scheme
- Individual farmer.
- Group of farmers.
- Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)
- Water User Associations.
