Overview of India's Agricultural Energy Consumption

India's agricultural sector is a significant consumer of electricity and diesel, primarily for irrigation purposes. The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) scheme aims to transition from diesel to solar power, reducing emissions and subsidies and shielding farmers from volatile costs.

Phase 1 of PM-KUSUM Scheme

• Aims to add 34.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar power for irrigation by 2025-26 through:
  1. Standalone solar pumps
  2. Grid-connected pump solarisation
  3. Small solar projects on barren land
• Targets:
  1. 1.4 million standalone solar agricultural pumps
  2. Solarisation of 3.5 million grid-connected agriculture pumps
• 2024-25 saw a 27% increase in loan sanctions under the scheme and a 20% rise in loan disbursements.

Phase 2 and Future Prospects

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans to launch Phase 2, potentially raising financial assistance and adopting scalable models from Phase 1 experiences.

• Potential features of Phase 2:
  1. Increased central financial assistance
  2. Agrovoltaic installations (crops and solar panels coexist)
  3. Models like Maharashtra’s land-aggregation portal (40,000 acres for solar farming)

Benefits of Solar Over Other Renewable Sources

Solar power is efficient, as it peaks during the daytime, aligning with irrigation needs, and allows surplus electricity to be fed back into the grid.

• Compared to wind and biomass:
  1. Solar is modular, farmer-controlled, and cost-effective
  2. Wind is geographically constrained
  3. Biomass presents logistical and sustainability challenges
• Household solar adoption:
  1. Rooftop solar capacity: 19 Gw
  2. Total installed solar capacity: 119 Gw (as of July 2025)
  3. 1 million households enrolled in PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Challenges and Conclusion

Challenges include land availability for solar projects and the existing affordability of electricity in some states, reducing the switch incentive. However, increasing solar adoption in agriculture is a positive step towards energy transition.