Solar pumps up India
S
olar power in India has
just had a major boost. The
country’s government has
announced funding that
will enable two million farmers to
invest in irrigation pumps powered
by solar photovoltaic arrays. These
will be connected to the grid, so
that when they aren’t needed, they
can help farmers earn a living by
selling clean electricity. In many
cases, the pumps will replace
polluting diesel-powered ones.
The announcement, an extension
of an earlier scheme, is “hugely
welcome,” said Indian solar expert
Hemant Lamba. As one pump
sometimes serves several farms,
the total number of solar-irrigated
farms in India could now be as highas 3–4 million, he added. “It means
India now has the largest solar pump
programme in the world,” he said.
That’s something of a triumph
for the Ashden India Renewable
Energy Collective, a group chaired
by Lamba that has long lobbied for
the government to take decisive
action to boost on-farm solar.
For the farmers, it’s a triple win.
The systems will provide an additional
source of income, ensure their fields
have a reliable supply of irrigation
water and give them on-site power
for machinery such as threshers or
to charge batteries. All while curbing
carbon emissions, too. “We’ve been
working so hard on this for a long
time,” says Lamba. “Now it feels
like all the pain has been worth it.”SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION PUMPS WILL WATER
MILLIONS OF FARMS AND EARN SMALL FARMERS
CASH BY SELLING GREEN ELECTRICITYBy MARTIN WRIGHTGOOD THINGS
POSITIVE NEWS* FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Salt farmer Kirti Ben, above left, and solar panels for irrigation
pumps and lighting in Tamil Nadu, aboveTaken from @the_happy_broadcast
by Mauro Gatti.GAZETTESolar pumps up India
S
olarpower in India has
justhad a major boost. The
country’s government has
announced funding that
willenabletwo million farmers to
investinirrigation pumps powered
bysolarphotovoltaic arrays. These
willbeconnected to the grid, so
thatwhenthey aren’t needed, they
canhelpfarmers earn a living by
sellingcleanelectricity. In many
cases,thepumps will replace
pollutingdiesel-powered ones.
Theannouncement, an extension
ofanearlierscheme, is “hugely
welcome,”said Indian solar expert
HemantLamba. As one pump
sometimesserves several farms,
thetotalnumber of solar-irrigated
farmsinIndia could now be as highas 3–4 million, he added. “It means
India now has the largest solar pump
programme in the world,” he said.
That’s something of a triumph
for the Ashden India Renewable
Energy Collective, a group chaired
by Lamba that has long lobbied for
the government to take decisive
action to boost on-farm solar.
For the farmers, it’s a triple win.
The systems will provide an additional
source of income, ensure their fields
have a reliable supply of irrigation
water and give them on-site power
for machinery such as threshers or
to charge batteries. All while curbing
carbon emissions, too. “We’ve been
working so hard on this for a long
time,” says Lamba. “Now it feels
like all the pain has been worth it.”SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION PUMPS WILL WATER
MILLIONS OF FARMS AND EARN SMALL FARMERS
CASH BY SELLING GREEN ELECTRICITYBy MARTIN WRIGHTGOOD THINGS
POSITIVE NEWS* FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Salt farmer Kirti Ben, above left, and solar panels for irrigation
pumps and lighting in Tamil Nadu, aboveTaken from @the_happy_broadcast
by Mauro Gatti.GAZETTE