PM KUSUM SCHEME

• By March 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will have installed 30,000 MW of solar power capacity in rural India under (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam UtthamMahabhiyan)PM KUSUM.

About PM KUSUM:

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced the PM KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam UtthanMahabhiyan) Scheme in 2019. Its goal was for the nation to install solar pumps, grid-connected solar power plants, and other renewable energy sources.

• One of the biggest programs in the world to give clean energy to more than 3.5 million farmers by the Indian government's under PM-KUSUM program. By solarizing their agricultural pumps, this would be accomplished.
• By offering farmers the choice to install solar power projects on their deserted fields, the KUSUM program would increase their income by allowing them to sell extra power to the grid.
• The PM-KUSUM project has the potential to completely transform India's rural economy and ensure the country's energy security.

Components of the PM-KUSUM:

• 10,000 MW of decentralised, grid-connected, ground-mounted renewable energy facilities make up Component-A.

• Two million standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps will be installed as Component B.
• Component-C: Solarization of 1.5 million solar-powered irrigation pumps that are connected to the grid.

Principal goals of PM KUSUM:

• Agricultural sector de-dieselization ensuring farmers' energy and water security

• Increasing farmers' income
• reducing pollution to the environment.

Characteristics of the plan:

• 1.75 million off-grid agricultural solar pumps were initially part of a distribution strategy for the national government.

• About 10,000 MW of solar pumps will be installed on the farmers' unused land.
• These pumps' extra electricity can be sold to the DISCOMs, or state electricity distribution corporations.
• To purchase this electricity, the DISCOMs will be able to get subsidies.
• Farmers will be able to purchase solar pumps with a 60% subsidy.

Advantage;

• States will benefit from the program's promotion of distributed solar energy generation and reduction of transmission losses.

• It may be possible for state governments to spend less on irrigation subsidies in this way.
• In addition to that, the plan will assist States in achieving their RPOs (renewable purchase obligation) goals.
• Farmers will benefit from selling their excess electricity because this will encourage them to use groundwater reasonably and effectively.
• Through the provision of reliable water supplies through solar water pumps, both off-grid and grid-connected, this may also offer farmers water security.
• Energy accessibility and security: The plan would make sure that there is enough local solar or other renewable energy-based electricity available to supply agricultural pump sets and rural load centres, which need power primarily during the day.
• Less transmission losses: As a result of these power plants' decentralised location closer to agricultural loads or electrical substations, STUs and DISCOMs will experience less transmission loss. Additionally, the plan will assist the DISCOMs in meeting their RPO goal.
• Spending will be cut since solar pumps will eliminate the need for diesel to power irrigation systems and give farmers a dependable source of irrigation.

The concern of the scheme:

• Logistics Problem: The domestic availability of the equipment itself is a problem. Pumps are not a problem for domestic vendors, but solar pumps are still hard to come by.

• Additionally, the domestic cell sourcing has to be increased by solar equipment vendors due to the tight DCR (Domestic Content Requirements). However, local cell production capacity is insufficient.
• Small and marginal farmers are left out: Small and marginal farmers have mostly been forgotten about because the programme is focused on pumps with capacity of 3 HP and above.
• Due to the fact that the majority of farmers—nearly 85% of them—are small and marginal farmers, solar pumps do not reach them.
• Water Table Depletion: As a result of energy subsidies, the ongoing cost of electricity is so low that farmers continue to pump water, causing the water table to decline.
• In a solar installation, upgrading to greater capacity pumps in the event that the water table drops becomes more challenging because you will need to add new, pricey solar panels.
• Financial: Farmers may be reluctant to feed in excess power when selling water or irrigating additional land are more appealing prospects, and there are doubts about their economic feasibility in the midst of significant farm subsidies.
• In addition, many farmers are unable to obtain bank loans without collateral.

Way forward

Bring States Together:

• The viability of this decentralised solar power system depends on agreement between the Center and the States.

• Any power reform in India cannot be implemented without agreement from the Center, States, and stakeholders. It will be like a half-baked cake until then.

Sustainable agriculture:

• In addition to using solar energy, farmers should transition to drip irrigation, which increases agricultural output while reducing water and energy use.

Profitable Solar Energy Pricing:

• Considering the difficulties posed by increased implementation and comprehensive maintenance costs, the scheme should be more appealing in terms of benchmark rates for effective implementation and significant stakeholder participation.

Streamline land regulations by working with other departments:

• Leasing or converting agricultural property for non-agricultural uses, such as the production of solar energy, will move more quickly as a result.

Unique Solutions:

• Encourage creative approaches to funding farmer contributions.

• Smart solutions: Engaging with farmers and implementing smart technologies like smart transformers and metres can foster confidence.

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