The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a memorandum for state-wise renewable energy capacity allocation under the KUSUM program for the country’s farmers.

The capacities have been allocated to various states in line with the demand received from states, the targets listed under the KUSUM program, and the guidelines. These will be applicable for the first year of the program.

The program has been divided into three components and aims to add a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022.

• The first component under the program includes the installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power projects.
• The second component will be the installation of 1.75 million standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps.
• The third component is solarization of 1 million grid-connected solar-powered agriculture pumps.

This is a tentative capacity allocation. Once the state subsidy share of a minimum of 30% for the quantity allocated under Component – B and Component – C are confirmed, the state-wise capacity allocation list will be finalized.

The states must submit their revised demand for the first year of the program. The ministry will approve the final amount after getting the revised demand with confirmation of the state subsidy shares of 30% from participating states or union territories under the program.

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the launch of the KUSUM program which will provide ₹334.22 billion (~$4.69 billion) in central financial support. The goal of the program is to give financial and water security to farmers.

The Central Electronics Limited of the central government recently invited an Expression of Interest for the empanelment of manufactures of solar water pumps in tenders under the KUSUM program.

Meanwhile, the Solar Energy Equipment Manufacturers Association of Telangana has written a letter to the Minister of Power, R.K. Singh requesting the withdrawal of “the irrational and impractical decision of mandatory usage of the indigenous solar cells in the KUSUM program.”

Image credit: Pooja Jadhav [CC BY-SA 4.0]