On April 1, 2021, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) commissioned India’s 1st Farm-based Solar Power Project under the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri-KisanUrja Suraksha evamUtthanMahabhiyan) Scheme at Bhaloji Village, Kotputli in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- It has a capacity of 1 megawatt and is spread over on 3.5-acre semi-barren land.
- The project is the 1st of 623 farm-based solar projects selected by RRECL for generating 722 MW capacity in Rajasthan under the 1st phase of the PM-KUSUM Scheme.
- It has been developed at an investment of nearly INR 3.7 Crore.
- The power generated by the project will be purchased by Rajasthan VidhyutVitran Nigam Ltd (at the rate of INR 3.14 per unit).
- It will allow farmers to generate additional revenue through the installation of Solar Power Plants in less-productive or barren lands.
Benefits
- The commissioned project is expected to generate 17 lakh units of electricity per year.
- It is expected to generate an annual income of nearly INR 50 Lakh for the farmer.
- The project in Kotputli is a 25-year contract between the RRECL & the farmland owner.
PM-KUSUM
It was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2019. It is one of the initiatives to Double the Farmer’s Income by 2022.
i.Objective – It was launched with the objective of providing financial and water security.
ii.Target – To add solar and other renewable capacities of 25, 750 MW by 2022 with Financial support of INR 34, 422 Crores.
iii.Components – The scheme has 3 components
- Component – A: To set up 10, 000 MW of Decentralized Grid-Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.
- Component – B: For Installation of 17.50 Lakh Stand-alone solar agriculture pumps
- Component – C: For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps.
iv.Financial Assistance of PM-KUSUM:
- Central Government provides 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower. State Government subsidy 30%; Remaining 40% by the farmer .
- North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, CFA of 50%, State Government subsidy 30%, Remaining 20% by the farmer.
Fact
PM-KUSUM aims at honouring India’s commitment to increasing 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) under the Paris Agreement.
Recent Related News:
i.On November 13, 2020, MNRE has amended the Guidelines of the PM-KUSUM scheme based on learnings from implementation of the scheme during the first year (2019-2020).
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister – Ashok Gehlot
Capital – Jaipur
