Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably

The document examines the implementation of solar irrigation in three Indian states, focusing on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It analyzes the effectiveness of standalone and grid-connected solar pumps, the role of the PM-KUSUM scheme, and the challenges of financing, coordination, and groundwater management. Key findings highlight the success of combining solar pumps with micro-irrigation in Rajasthan, the innovative cooperative and IoT monitoring models in Gujarat, and the use of BLDC pumps and grid-scale solar planning in Andhra Pradesh.

• Rajasthan has successfully integrated solar pump deployment with water conservation by mandating that farmers install drip irrigation systems and water storage mechanisms (diggis) to be eligible for standalone solar pumps.
• In Rajasthan, the proportion of small and marginal farmers benefiting from solar pump schemes has increased over time, with recent studies indicating they make up between 60% and 72% of beneficiaries.
• Gujarat pioneered a solar irrigation cooperative model in Dhundi in 2015, where a micro-grid of solar pumps sold electricity back to the grid via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a tariff of INR 4.63/kWh plus bonuses.
• Gujarat implemented a 'Smart Energy Management' system using the Internet of Things (IoT) and 'WatchDog Transformers' to monitor energy consumption and prevent non-participating farmers from over-consuming power.
• Andhra Pradesh's pilot project with Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) pumps demonstrated that 30–40% of generated solar power could be injected into the grid, providing farmers with additional annual income of INR 3,000–6,000.
• Andhra Pradesh is planning to implement grid-scale solar capacity of 10 GW for agricultural power supply to avoid the time-consuming outreach required for individual pump schemes.
• A significant barrier to the scale-up of the PM-KUSUM scheme across these states is the farmers' ability to afford the required 40% upfront capital cost, as commercial bank interest rates for solar pumps can reach 10–12%.
• The document emphasizes that groundwater monitoring should be based on the 'permanent sustainable water level' rather than total borewell depth to prevent solar pumps from running dry.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2021). Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably-annex.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably. 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably-annex.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably |date=2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably-annex.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2021implementing, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/implementing-solar-irrigation-sustainably-annex.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }