Punjab government plans incentives for farmers generating surplus solar energy

In a major step towards making Punjab a leader in green energy production, the Punjab government is considering incentives for farmers who generate surplus solar energy through solar pumps used for agriculture, announced Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources.

Responding to a question raised by Naresh Puri, MLA from Sujanpur Assembly constituency, during the question hour in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Aman Arora stated that this initiative would empower farmers, strengthen the renewable energy sector, and contribute to the state's sustainable future. Under the proposed policy, farmers will be compensated for any excess solar energy produced beyond their own consumption. This surplus energy will be fed into the grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting a greener Punjab.

"By empowering farmers to become active participants in the renewable energy sector, we are not only promoting clean energy but also creating new economic opportunities for our farmers," said Aman Arora. He added that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) plans to install 20,000 solar pumps for agriculture, with over 5,000 already allocated to farmers.

He also shared that 4,474 government buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a total capacity of 34 MW, generating over 4.9 crore units of electricity annually. PEDA further plans to set up 100 MW capacity solar power plants on government buildings over the next two financial years.

Highlighting the benefits of grid-connected rooftop solar PV power plants, he explained that these systems generate electricity at the consumer level, reducing distribution network losses. The power generated helps bridge the demand-supply gap and enables PSPCL to meet renewable purchase obligations set by the Electricity Regulatory Commissions. The PV systems produce electricity during the day, with excess energy fed back into the grid.