Solar irrigation pumps can help India reach 38% of its green energy target

A robust national solar irrigation programme could successfully contribute to the country reaching its goal of 100 Gw of installed solar power capacity by 2022

A switch from conventional diesel- and electric-powered irrigation pumps to solar-powered ones can help the country achieve 38 per cent of its envisaged 175 Gw renewable energy target by 2022. 

The shift to solar-powered irrigation pumps can also save enormous sums of money and generate additional income for farmers, says a report by the US-based Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis (IEEFA). 

The IEEFA report, titled 'India: Vast Potential in Solar-Powered Irrigation', notes that the idea of replacing some 30 million grid-attached or diesel pumps with solar pumps is gaining traction but the pace of deployment is slow.

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