Fadnavis: Farmers to Gain Income from Solar Pump Electricity Sales

16 Sep 2024 CW Team

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, announced that he would soon introduce a scheme allowing farmers to sell surplus electricity generated by their agricultural solar pump panels to the grid, thereby creating an additional income source for them.

This announcement was made during the inauguration of an MSEDCL website intended for registering beneficiary farmers under the scheme. Additionally, Fadnavis released an informative booklet and poster outlining the details of the scheme.

Fadnavis noted that before 2014, farmers faced significant challenges with delayed electricity connections. He highlighted that the current administration has prioritised addressing these issues and providing timely electricity connections to farmers.

Under the 'Magel Tyala Solar Krushi Pump Scheme,' farmers are currently receiving immediate pumps with a 90% subsidy. These solar agricultural pumps ensure a reliable supply of electricity during the day. Given that solar panels produce electricity for 25 years, farmers will not incur electricity charges during this period. A senior MSEDCL official mentioned that a farmer with a 7.5 HP pump could save around Rs 1 million in electricity bills over 25 years.

Fadnavis also stated that under the Chief Minister Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme 2.0, agreements have been made for 12,000 MW of electricity generation in the state. He projected that full capacity generation would commence within the next two years, providing farmers with 100% solar energy for irrigation. He noted that this would offer farmers environmentally friendly green energy, leading to savings in subsidy and cross-subsidy funds.

He emphasized that the past two and a half years have been crucial for the state's energy sector, with all three electricity companies making significant contributions.

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