Context:
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, held a review meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and lauded UP’s leadership in the implementation of PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar schemes.
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- During the meeting, Uttar Pradesh reaffirmed its commitment to achieving its ambitious target of 22 GW in solar energy capacity.
- The Union Minister also visited Duggaur village in Bakshi Ka Talab tehsil of Lucknow to inspect a solar pump project established under PM-KUSUM C-1 scheme.
- Inspected an 11.2 kW on-grid solar power plant installed by a local farmer for a 7.5 HP irrigation pump.
- Since installation, the solar plant has generated a total of 8,945 kWh of electricity, out of which 7,100 kWh has been exported to the grid, while 1,845 kWh has been used for irrigation.
- This has enabled him energy-independent and allowed to earn extra income by selling surplus power to the grid, serving as a model for farmers to adopt sustainable, income-generating solar practices.
- Energy Minister of UP, A.K. Sharma, thanked Union Minister for allocating 3.7 lakh solar pumps to Uttar Pradesh under PM-KUSUM (Component C – Feeder Level Solarization).
PM KUSUM
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) Scheme in 2019.
- Objective: To provide energy and water security to farmers, enhance their income, de-dieselize the farm sector, and reduce environmental pollution.
- The scheme has three components:
- Component-A: Farmers can set-up Decentralized Ground/ Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based Power Plants on their land up to the capacity of 2MW.
- Component-B: Under this Component farmers can install the Stand-alone Solar Agriculture Pumps for irrigation.
- Component-C: Solarisation of grid-connected Agriculture Pumps under its Individual Pump Solarisation (IPS) mode & also Feeder Level Solarisation (FLS) of agricultural load.
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY)
- The Union Cabinet has approved the PMSGMBY with an outlay of ₹75,021 crore to install rooftop solar and provide up to 300 units of free electricity monthly to one crore households.
- It was launched on February 13, 2024.
- Households will have access to collateral-free, low-interest loans at around 7% interest for the installation of residential rooftop solar (RTS) systems up to 3 kW.
- Eligibility:
- Household must be an Indian citizen.
- Must own house with a roof that is suitable for installing solar panels.
- Must have a valid electricity connection.
- Must not have availed any other subsidy for solar panels.
- Subsidy Rate:
- For 1-2 kw capacity: Subsidy support ₹ 30,000- ₹ 60,000.
- For 2-3 kw capacity: Subsidy support ₹ 60,000- ₹ 78,000.
- Above 3 kw: Subsidy support ₹ 78,000.
