Uttar Pradesh Backs Farmers for Solar Plants With Subsidies

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The state of Uttar Pradesh that has not shown much speed in terms of renewables growth so far seems to be making some moves of late. The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the farmers of the state for 7 MW of solar power generation projects under the PM KUSUM Scheme.

The objective of the projects is to raise the level of income of farmers and enable them to produce their own power for self-consumption.

The solar projects will be executed in six districts of Uttar Pradesh in different villages in different capacities.

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The solar power generation centres will come up in the districts of Bijnor, Hathras, Mahoba, Jalaun, Deoria and Lucknow districts. M Devraj, Chairman, UPPCL, said that the capacity of these power generation centres will be: Bijnor (1.5 MW), Hathras (500 kW), Mahoba (1MW), Jalaun (1MW), Deoria (1MW) and Lucknow (2 MW).

A statement from the state government held that farmers will be setting up solar power plants on either barren or uncultivable agricultural lands. Banks will give assistance in the development and the Uttar Pradesh government will provide subsidies. Farmers then can sell the electricity to state owned or private power firms which will boost their income.

The Uttar Pradesh Government said that the beneficiary farmers can install solar-powered irrigation pumps and get rid of dependence on fossil fuel based irrigation pumps. The government will also offer 90 per cent of the total cost of the installation of the solar pump. It also said that the sale of electricity from the solar power plants to DISCOMs, can earn them an additional Rs 80,000 per year.

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Weavers to Gain Too

The weavers of Varanasi – a place popular for Benarasi silk and other handloom products – will get grants from the Uttar Pradesh government to set up solar power plants and will not have to depend on conventional power sources.

Arun Kumar Kuril, Assistant Commissioner, Handloom and Textile Industries, reportedly said that the funds will be made available through Chief Minister’s Weaver Solar Energy Scheme and women handloom operators will get special benefits.