Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably

This guidebook provides recommendations for state policy-makers in India on the sustainable implementation of decentralized solar power plants for irrigation, specifically focusing on Components A and C (feeder-level solarization) of the PM-KUSUM scheme.

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to increase farm incomes and improve crop productivity through the solarization of the agriculture sector.
• Solar irrigation can reduce the financial burden on electricity distribution companies by shifting away from heavily subsidized grid electricity; a review across 17 states and Union Territories indicated that 75% of all such subsidies are directed toward agriculture.
• The guidebook emphasizes the need for sustainable implementation due to the "water–energy–food nexus," where changes in one area can lead to unexpected consequences in others. It specifically targets the protection of groundwater and the support of marginal and low-income farmers.
• To scale up decentralized solar plants, states must reduce financing and implementation risks and can utilize early deployments to test innovative methods such as direct benefit transfer incentives and agrivoltaics.

APA

,, A. R. G. S. B. P. K. K. (2023). Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably

Chicago

,, Anas Rahman,Siddharth Goel,Akash Sharma,Christopher Beaton,Florian Postel,Kritika Kumar,Ujjwal Kumar. Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=, |first1=Anas Rahman,Siddharth Goel,Akash Sharma,Christopher Beaton,Florian Postel,Kritika Kumar,Ujjwal Kumar |title=Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=29 May 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{2023implementing, author = {,, Anas Rahman,Siddharth Goel,Akash Sharma,Christopher Beaton,Florian Postel,Kritika Kumar,Ujjwal Kumar}, title = {{Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }