Punjab Govt Eyes Solar Push Through Farmer Incentives

In a significant step toward positioning Punjab as a frontrunner in green energy, the state government is considering offering incentives to farmers who produce surplus solar energy using solar pumps installed for agricultural use. This was announced by Punjab’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy Sources, Aman Arora, during the Question Hour in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.

Arora stated that the proposed policy would not only empower farmers but also strengthen the renewable energy sector and contribute to a more sustainable future. Under the plan, farmers generating more solar power than they consume would be compensated for feeding the excess energy into the grid, helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

He added that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will install 20,000 solar pumps across the state, with over 5,000 already allocated to farmers.

Highlighting the government’s broader renewable initiatives, Arora shared that rooftop solar panels have been installed on 4,474 government buildings, generating 34 MW of solar power and producing over 4.9 crore units of electricity annually. Additionally, PEDA is planning to add 100 MW of solar capacity on government buildings in the next two years.

Arora emphasized that grid-connected rooftop solar systems help reduce distribution losses, ease demand-supply gaps, and support PSPCL in meeting its renewable energy targets.