Solar-powered pumps run on power generated by photovoltaic panels replacing grid- or diesel-run generators. This alleviates the pressure on weak rural grids and eliminates pollution from diesel-operated pumps.

In developing nations like India, the agriculture sector offers a substantial opportunity for the growth of the solar water pump market. India is endowed with solar irradiation to facilitate a booming solar pump ecosystem. A great boon for the environment, enablement of solar pumps across the country will reduce need for heavier investment in grid infrastructure, improve farmers’ livelihood and decrease reliance on imported crude.

India’s Union Budget 2020 has laid a major emphasis on use of solar energy for farming under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan (PM-KUSUM) scheme, with an outlay of ₹34,422 crores (US$4.7 billion). The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2019 to support installation of solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid. Solarization would reduce dependence of these pumps on conventional electricity thus reducing the requirement of subsidized electricity for agriculture and provide additional source of income to farmers who will be in a position to sell the surplus power to the utility.

The PM KUSUM scheme has three components:

•              10,000 MW of decentralized ground mounted grid-connected renewable power plants (Component-A)

•              Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone solar powered agriculture pumps (Component-B)

•              Solarization of 10 lakh grid-connected solar powered agriculture pumps (Component-C)

 

Read more about Project KUSUM; PM Kusum Yojana