Questions/Answers

-Government of Gujarat has been at the forefront of promoting renewable energy and alternate energy resources that are eco-friendly and sustainable for one and all. The Government of Gujarat has also been taking proactive measures to reduce the subsidy burden on the government, accumulated because of subsidized power tariffs offered to agriculture sector. -Power consumption by agriculture pump sets in Gujarat accounts for more than 20% of the total power consumption in the state and is increasing every year as the cost of conventional power is also increasing. On the other hand, power distribution companies (DISCOMs) are able to release around 100,000 agriculture-power connections a year. -The power tariff to agriculture category is subsidized and the subsidy burden is increasing due to the large number of new agriculture-power connections being installed. -There are a large number of agriculture pump sets using diesel, where there is no electricity connection. -Due to large geographical area of the State, huge infrastructure i.e. length of HT line and transformer centre is required to cater power supply to agriculture.  -Because of high growth of agriculture sector and huge demand for electrical connections, there is a waiting list of 250,000 applications for agriculture-power connections -In view of above, to reduce burden of subsidy on the State Government, to save huge expenditure on infrastructure like HT line, transformer centre etc. and with a view to promote renewable energy, the State Government decided to implement Scheme of Solar Water Pump Sets for Agriculture pump sets from FY-2014-15. -As per the Scheme, the eligible beneficiaries have received Solar Water Pump Sets of 3 HP, 5 HP, 7.5 HP as per their requirements.

-The objective of the Solar water pumping program is to promote use of renewable energy in agriculture sector and simultaneously give overriding priority to the waitlisted applicants for agriculture pump set connections, by giving them the option of switching over their application from grid electricity to renewable electricity. -In the State of Gujarat, 250,000 applications were pending electricity connections for agriculture pumpsets drawing power from conventional sources. As the State is blessed with high solar energy potential, agriculture connections can be given through Solar water pumps and therefore the State Government had decided to implement Scheme of Solar Water Pump Sets for Agriculture pump sets from FY-2014-15. -This scheme helps the farmers of the agrarian state of Gujarat to cultivate their crops using renewable energy and earn more yields and profit. -The scheme attempts to reduce burden of subsidy on the State Government. The state government gives grid power supply to the farmers at subsidized rate. Power consumption by agriculture pump sets in Gujarat accounts for more than 20% of the total power consumption in the state and is increasing every year as the cost of conventional power is also increasing. On the other hand, power distribution companies (DISCOMs) are able to release around 100,000 agriculture-power connections a year. -Giving electric connections through grid energy requires huge capital investment for erecting distribution infrastructure, transmission line, substations and power stations. As Solar energy become easily accessible through cheaper PV modules, huge capital infrastructure can be saved by promoting solar water pumps. -At the forefront of promoting the renewable energy and having alternate energy resources, Gujarat has decided to go for Solar water pumps in agriculture sector. Use of solar agriculture pumps helps the country to reduce carbon emissions. Solar power is clean and green energy, environment friendly, noise-free, pollution-free, which helps to reduce global warming effects. Use of solar agriculture pumps thus helps in saving natural resources.

-The selected category is “Reaching the poorest & most vulnerable through inclusive service & partnerships”. -The Gujarat State has the total area of 195024 sq.kms. Its population is 60 Million of which percentage of rural population is about 75 percent. Nearly 90 lakhs farmers and farm workers are engaged in agricultural production, accounting for 65 percent of total work force in the State. The State is divided into 26 districts with 225 talukas. The state registered 12.8% agricultural growth in the last five years against the national average of 2%. -Electricity Connections for agriculture directly affects the agriculture growth. Due to wait listing of nearly 250,000 applications for getting electricity connections for irrigation, farmers are compelled to use diesel or irrigate fields by other methods. But in the absence of electric connections, farmers are not able to fulfil irrigation requirements. Solar pumps fulfill the need of proper irrigation infrastructure in absence of grid connection and serve the purpose of facilitating irrigation, thereby enabling economic upliftment of the farmer.

-The Capital Cost of solar water pumps is high, i.e. ~INR 4 lakh per 5 HP set and all farmers cannot afford the investment. So the State government has introduced a scheme to provide Solar water pumps to farmers at subsidized rates through following token charges: Scheduled Caste farmer/ Tribal farmer is required to pay INR 1000/- per HP only (one time payment) & all other category farmers have to pay INR 5000/- per HP only (one time payment) for setting up the solar pump sets. -Solar PV power is a reliable source of power supply. This makes farmers free from grid supply based troubles like failure of Transformers, interruptions, Poor voltage, burning of motor pump, changing of Power supply schedule every week, etc. -No monthly billing is done by DISCOMs. -Home light with mobile charger point will be provided with Solar Pumping System to all beneficiaries. -Five years Comprehensive Maintenance Contract is included in the package. -Solar power is clean and green energy- Environment friendly, no noise, no pollution, which helps to reduce global warming effects. -Saving of natural resources -Solar energy is free-it needs no fuel and produces no waste or pollution.

This initiative has positively impacted the farmers of Gujarat. The Solar water pumping system works during day time on solar irradiation, so farmers avail the key advantage of irrigation during the day time and this makes the farmer free from night hour schedule of grid supply based irrigation. Solar PV power is a reliable source of power supply. This makes farmer free from Grid supply based troubles like failure of Transformers, interruptions, Poor voltage, burning of motor pump, changing of Power supply schedule every week, etc. Solar Power is natural and free, no monthly billing is done by DISCOMS. Solar energy generation will reduce the grid loading, which enables grid stability. Saving in transmission losses of grid.

Gujarat is an agrarian State and economic growth of many classes of society depends upon agriculture production. If the agriculture production is good, there is a good growth in other sectors as large number of people are dependent on this sector. For irrigation, farmers are required to fetch ground water through diesel pump set in absence of the electricity connection. Due to the scheme of Solar water pumps, people can install Solar panels in the farm and generate the power to operate the pump set. -Extend irrigation facilities at remote places faraway from grid lines -New area augmentation for agriculture & enhance agriculture production -Options to cultivate better crops -Help income enhancement of the beneficiaries -Extend irrigation facility at remote places -Promotion of water conservation & its technologies

A solar-powered pump is a  pump harnessing solar energy by running on electricity generated through photovoltaic panels available from sunlight as opposed to grid electricity or diesel run water pumps. The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical mainly due to the lower operation and maintenance costs and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable. Solar Water pump system for irrigation purpose is ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The existing scheme has options for operating AC or DC motor. The Solar power is basically a DC power and to run an AC motor, through Controller with VFD and DC motor directly through charge controller. The Controller is having Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) to optimally use the Solar panel and maximize the water discharge. The solar inverter with MPPT VF drive will give maximum torque even at minimum sunlight. Because of the variable frequency drive (VF drive) the starting current of the motor will come down drastically. So the motor will start even at minimum intensity sunlight - say morning 7 o'clock. VF drive will give constant torque for wide range of intensity of sunlight - morning till evening. So water will be continuously pumped from morning till evening. Practically the frequency varies from 10 HZ to 50Hz depending upon solar power. The structures for mounting PV modules are designed in such a way that it would not occupy the useful space of the farm. Cylindrical based mounting structures are provided under which the farmer can also grow vegetables.

The Solar pump is based on Government of India’s program through Ministry of New and Renewable energy (MNRE). Also Solar pumps are also used in many Indian states. But in Gujarat, the distribution utilities have taken initiatives and installed more than 10,000 Solar pump sets from 2014, through large scale decentralized-distributed energy generation programs undertaken by distribution utilities of Gujarat.

Following resources were used to implement the initiative. 1. Government of Gujarat for formulating schemes and funding the programme 2. Ministry of New and Renewable industry for technical specification of Solar PV and up 30% subsidy 3. GEDA-Gujarat Energy Development Agency for co-ordination between MNRE and GUVNL for taking fund. 4. GUVNL and its DISCOM namely PGVCL, MGVCL, DGVCL and UGVCL for procurement of Solar pump sets 5. Suppliers of Solar PV modules, Controllers, VFD, MPPT, HDPE pipes, AC /BLDC submersible motor pump set. 6. System integrators 7. Beneficiaries (farmers)

لا

Yes, it can be transferred to other countries and states.

Farmers can get timely connection of Solar Water Pump system. This helps farmers avoid waiting for long period to get grid based supply. The Solar water pumping system works during day time, so farmers avail the key advantage of irrigation during the day time and this makes farmers free from night hour grid supply based irrigation. Solar irradiation is a continuous source of energy, so future problem of load shedding or power cut is totally eliminated. The Solar PV power is a reliable source of power supply. This makes farmer free from Grid supply based troubles like failure of transformers, interruptions, poor voltage, burning of motor pump, changing of Power supply schedule every week etc. Those farmers who are running their pump sets through oil/ diesel can now switch on the solar water pumping system to avoid fuel supply problems, transport issues or increasing operating costs. The solar irradiation starts from morning and last up to evening, hence it starts generating power from morning up to evening. Easy operation and maintenance enables a person at farm to switch ON- switch OFF just line conventional electricity system. The initiative is sustainable because solar energy is harnessed. Gujarat, being in a tropical region, solar energy is available almost through the year except rainy season. Solar power is clean and green energy-Environment friendly, no noise, no pollution, which helps to reduce global warming effects.

Solar energy which is green energy and abundant in Gujarat state can be harnessed for Solar Water Pumping System purpose. The overall life of Solar PV modules is considered 25 years so the initiative is sustainable. The initiative is sustainable because renewable energy is generated from Sun. Gujarat being in a tropical region, solar energy is available almost through the year except rainy season. Solar power is clean and green energy-Environment friendly, no noise, no pollution, which helps to reduce global warming effects.

نعم

Yes, The initiative have been formally evaluated by carrying out evaluation, impact and cost benefit analysis of solar water pumps installed by four DISCOMs of GUVNL during the year 2014-15 and 2015-16 in Gujarat.

Minimum coverage of 10% of the total installed pumps following three prescribed criteria: -Two Years- FYs 2014-15 & 2015-16 -All the nine firms involved during FYs 2014-15 & 2015-16 -All the 33 districts Out come of survey: Overall Satisfaction- 94.7% beneficiaries were satisfied Service during installation- 95% beneficiaries were satisfied including 81.69 % extremely satisfied. After Sale Service- 63.61% beneficiaries were satisfied Spare Parts availability- 71.87% beneficiaries were satisfied Opinion on training -88.2% beneficiaries were satisfied with training provided by the Agencies. Opinion on day time power -95.18% beneficiaries were satisfied with day time power Opinion on time taken to attend the faulty pump -75% beneficiaries were satisfied Opinion on regular maintenance -89.64% beneficiaries were satisfied

At the time of survey, format was given to the beneficiaries which included 10 major points covering all the information required for carrying for solar pump evaluation study. -Major points are as follows: -General information about beneficiary and site -System details as per sanction–faulty, defunct and history -Performance status details -Details regarding maintenance provided by suppliers -Details regarding awareness and training to beneficiary -Impact on daily lives after installation of solar pumps -Satisfaction level -Recommendation of beneficiary to others for installation of solar pumps -Beneficiary suggestion/experience

Collaboration: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Govt. of India (MNRE, GoI), Govt. of Gujarat, GEDA,DISCOMs /GUVNL, Privates enterprises –Solar Pump supplier , Beneficiaries Engagement: GoG is allotting annual budget for installation of Solar pumps. CPP tender is done by DISCOM and work is carried out by qualifying Agencies. Agency has to complete the work within 90 days from date of handing over of list of beneficiaries. Coordination: State Nodal Agency for implementing scheme-GEDA is co-ordinating between State and Central Govt. Partnerships: At present cost of solar pump sets is subsidized- beneficiary need to pay token charges towards capital cost and MNRE now gives subsidy up to 20%, rest of the amount is funded by the state government. Stakeholders 1. Beneficiaries : Beneficiaries are farmer who pay below mentioned charges as onetime payment: Scheduled caste farmer/ Tribal farmer is required to pay INR 1000/- per HP only. All other category farmers have to pay INR 5000/- per HP. 2. Privates enterprises –Solar Pump suppliers : installed the system at beneficiary premises and provide CMC for 5 years 3. Ministry of New and Renewable energy of Govt. of India (GoI) –Chalks out the schemes and fix norms and give Central Finance Assistance to the scheme 4. Govt. of Gujarat -Allot the remaining Financial Assistance to the scheme 5. State Nodal Agency for implementing scheme-GEDA : Co-ordinate between State and Central Govt. 6. DISCOMs /GUVNL : DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL & UGVCL are four DISCOMS in Gujarat and GUVNL is monitoring the progress of all the DISCOMs

As on 31.1.18 , total 10064 nos of off grid Solar Water Pumps are installed. Because of the unavailability of ground water at some places, farmers are unable to grow crops in the summer season. So the Solar pump remains ideal. To export unused Solar power, the Solar pumps should be connected to grid. Thus, farmers can also earn money for the exported grid energy.