India highlights PM-KUSUM solar scheme for farmers at World Energy Congress

Rotterdam, Apr 25: India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal highlighted the steps that the Narendra Modi government was taking to promote solar power in the country to help convergence towards the COP28 renewable energy and energy efficiency commitments at the ongoing 26th edition of World Energy Congress.

At a Ministerial Round Table Conference on Wednesday, he said the government's initiatives like the PM-KUSUM Scheme and solar rooftop programmes were promoting environmental sustainability and job creation. The Indian Carbon Market will further advance sustainability efforts, he added.

PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a solar power scheme aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India along with honouring India's commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40 per cent by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

The scheme has a target of setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralised Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land and installing 27.50 lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps on farmlands in the country as part of the big push for green energy.

Agarwal also pointed out that the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration is a testimony of India's efforts for building convergence towards the COP28 commitments of doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvements every year and tripling the global renewable capacity by 2030.