PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan)
- Objective: Launched in 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), PM-KUSUM aims to install 30,000 MW of solar power capacity in rural India by March 2026.
- Components:
- 10,000 MW of decentralized grid-connected renewable power plants.
- Installation of 20 lakh solar-powered agriculture pumps.
- Conversion of 15 lakh grid-connected agriculture pumps into solar.
- Significance:
- Increase Access to Energy: Encourages farmers to sell surplus solar energy, augmenting their income and enhancing rural electricity access.
- Climate Mitigation: Promotes reasonable groundwater use, expands solar-based irrigation, and reduces carbon emissions by up to 32 million tonnes annually.
- Employment and Empowerment: Creates job opportunities and empowers rural communities by giving them control over energy generation.
- Challenges:
- Financial and Logistics: High setup costs and limited financing for some farmers. Availability of solar equipment, especially pumps, remains a challenge.
- Depleting Water Tables: Subsidized electricity leads to over-pumping, affecting water tables. Upgrading solar installations for water table fluctuations poses difficulties.
- Regulatory Barriers: Issues with grid connection and technical challenges in integrating decentralized solar power projects.
- Way Forward:
- Consensus and Cooperation: Success depends on consensus between the Centre, States, and stakeholders for effective implementation.
- Drip Irrigation Adoption: Farmers should adopt drip irrigation for water and power conservation.
- Attractiveness of Scheme: To address implementation challenges, the scheme should offer more attractive benchmark prices, considering higher implementation costs and comprehensive maintenance requirements.
