WattPower and First Solar Host ‘Solar Connect’ to Advance Agri-Solar Growth Under PM-KUSUM in Telangana

WattPower, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, in collaboration with First Solar, hosted a high-level industry roundtable,‘Solar Connect’, at Vivanta, Hyderabad. The event brought together policy influencers, clean energy experts, and project enablers to discuss the future of agri-solar deployment in Telangana under the PM-KUSUM scheme.

Designed as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, the event featured deep-dive technical presentations by both companies, followed by an expert-led panel discussion moderated by Mr. Pavit Gandhi, Director, Sales, WattPower.

The panel, titled “Unlocking PM-KUSUM: Bridging Gaps in Implementation, Financing, and Infrastructure for Agri-Solar Scale-Up in Telangana,” addressed the core challenges and opportunities in expanding solar energy adoption in the agriculture sector, critical to India’s energy transition and rural economy.

  The panel addressed critical themes such as

• Progress and on-ground challenges of PM-KUSUM implementation in Telangana
• The evolving role of EPC contractors in scaling agri-solar infrastructure
• Financing barriers and solutions for small-scale solar developers under Component A
• Grid integration readiness of DISCOMs and energy accounting frameworks
• Land ownership issues, leasing models, and increasing farmer participation
• Potential for rural employment generation through PM-KUSUM projects
• Leveraging digital tools for real-time project tracking, transparency, and efficiency
•  Policy reforms required to drive private sector investment
  
  

The session was enriched by a keynote address from Shri Ajay Mishra, Former Special Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, who emphasized the importance of integrated efforts between government, private players, and financial institutions to unlock the scheme’s full potential.

In her closing remarks, Ms. SwaralipiMaithy, Executive Director, WattPower Systems Pvt. Ltd., stated: “At WattPower, we are deeply committed to driving India’s energy transition from the grassroots up. Solar Connect is a step toward creating synergy among all key stakeholders, from policymakers and developers to farmers and financiers, to ensure that solar energy reaches the fields where it matters most.”

‘Solar Connect’ reaffirmed the critical role of collaborative platforms in unlocking the transformative potential of agri-solar in India and set the tone for future partnerships that will empower rural communities and strengthen India’s renewable energy mission.