Why in news? Bescom and KREDL float tender for solarisation of agriculture feeders under PM Kusum Yojana

Highlights:

• It is a first of its kind project in the Karnataka under Component C (Individual Pump Solarisation) of PM Kusum Yojana
• Project will receive 30% subsidy for the solar plants from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• KREDL will solarise agri feeders at substation levels on behalf of Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC)
• BESCOM will also provide power to separate IP sets.

What are the features of the project?

• The solarised agri feeders will have efficient power supply while also helping Escoms cut down transmission costs.
• The bidders selected for the commissioning of the project would have to work through Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode for 25 years
• RESCO will take care of selection of power generators, Build, Own and Operate (BOO), Installation, and Maintenance.

About PM Kusum Scheme

• Full form: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan.
• Launched by: the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Aim: to provide clean energy to more than 3.5 million farmers by solarising their agriculture pumps and allowing farmers to up 10 GW distributed solar projects.
• Farmers can sell electricity generated from solar panels.
• Fund: Government will provide 60% subsidy to the farmers and 30% of the cost will be given by the government in the form of a loan

Components of the scheme :

• Component A- Aims to install grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants (up to 2 MW) aggregating to a total capacity of 10 GW
• Component B- Install 1.75 million standalone solar pumps
• Component C- Solarize 1 million grid connected agricultural pumps