Karnataka Set To Install 40,000 Solar Pumps Under PM-KUSUM

Karnataka Budget Set To Install 40,000 Solar Pumps Under PM-KUSUM

Karnataka 2024 Budget released some key initiatives to support the solar sector such as through the installation of solar pumps. The 2024 budget emphasized some key initiatives to make farmers self-sufficient. The Karnataka government will install 40,000 off-grid solar pump sets under the PM-KUSUM Component-B scheme. It plans to do so at an estimated cost of Rs.1,174 Crore. The Central Government share is 30% and the subsidy provided by the State Government has been enhanced from 30% to 50%.”

Under the agricultural pump, they shared their plans to set feeder solarization scheme Phase-I. The budget mentioned, “The government has taken action for decentralized generation of 1,320 MW of energy. This the government claims, can benefit 3.37 lakh farmers. Apart from this, solarization of 4.30 lakh IP sets by implementing 1,192 MW solar projects under Phase-II is proposed.” The budget shared some other initiatives to use solar power which include, “Karnataka Power Corporation Limited plans to implement floating and ground-mounted solar plant program in collaboration with Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL).”

Among a slew of schemes and initiatives introduced by the Karnataka government budget included, “Plan to launch a scheme for installing solar parks in backwaters and lands owned by Water Resources Department on the lines of Pavagada Solar Parks. This project is expected to be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.”

The budget included, “Plans for undertaking pilots to reduce the electricity charges of the grama panchayats. They also plan to install solar streetlights within 50-gram panchayats at a cost of Rs.25 crore under the Hombelaku program. It also envisions to introduce systematic metering of streetlamps in 200 Gram Panchayats.”

Karnataka government shares their vision, “To introduce captive/group captive solar parks which they claim to establish at various institutions under urban development department such as BBMP, BMRCL, BWSSB, BDA to reduce the bills incurred by these organizations.”

In the budget, “The government also proposed to set up micro grid solar units of 500 KW battery storage capacity in one backward village under the jurisdiction of each ESCOM. The budget claims to be installed by KREDL on a pilot basis, to make these villages self-reliant.”

The government budget shared its plans as it envisions, “To make greater investment in the energy sector to take Karnataka numero-uno in the country once again in energy production. They have introduced policies such as, the budget mentioned, “Gruha Jyothi Guarantee Scheme has been launched with effect from 1st July. The scheme provides free electricity up to 200 units to domestic consumers. So far, 1.65 crore domestic consumers are registered under this scheme and up to five crore domestic consumers are availing free electricity.”

Their plans align with their goal which as stated in the budget is to, especially since renewable energy constitutes 63% of the total
energy generated in the State. It mentioned, “Due to the investor-friendly policies of our government, we have been able to attract thousands of crores of private investments in the sector. We endeavor to continue on this path and make the sector more investor-friendly in the coming days.” 

The Karnataka government looks at green hydrogen as the energy of the future. The government plans to, “Harness this energy through the plan to attract investment to this sector. They plan to install a 300 kw capacity self-sustained green hydrogen plant by KREDL on a pilot basis. This will be installed using MNRE funds at an estimated cost of Rs.10 crore. A new green hydrogen policy will be formulated.”

To produce renewable energy on a large scale and to transmit it to load centers and green hydrogen hubs, it is proposed to establish Ultra High Voltage (UHV) transmission lines of 765 kV by KPTCL.” It added, “To avoid scheduled and prolonged electricity outages during maintenance of transmission lines, Mobile/Vehicle mounted 66 kV & 110 kV sub-stations will be purchased by KPTCL.”  It plans to upgrade sub-stations under PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP) to cater to the growing energy requirements of Bengaluru city and its surrounding areas because of the proliferation of multi-story buildings.”   

Electric Vehicle’s

The budget envisions setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging centers and petrol bunks will be started in APMCs in public-private- partnership. This they plan to do to encourage electric vehicle sales in the state. Under the budget, the government plans to install 2,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations under public-private partnership mode. Besides, 100 charging centers are expected to be set up through power supply companies for Rs. 35 crores.

The budget explains, “The Karnataka Government has succeeded in attracting investment of Rs. 88,150 crores in the year 2023-24. This investment is predominantly in sectors related to the production of Lithium-Ion batteries for electric vehicles, Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), Automobile, Data Centers, etc.”