Rajasthan invites applications to lease land for Solar Projects under KUSUM Program :

1. The government is aiming to set up 10,000 MW of decentralized solar projects under Component -A of the program

2. The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC) has invited applications from interested entities to set up solar projects on their own or offer their land on lease under the Component-A of the KUSUM program.

3. Any farmer, cooperative society, panchayats, farmers producer organization (FPO), water users association can take part in this process. Any landowner or developer with whom the landowner has entered into a lease agreement can also apply for the above process.

4. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the KUSUM program for farmers for the installation of solar pumps and grid-connected solar and other renewable power projects in the country.

5. The program has been divided into three components and aims to add a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022. The first component under the program includes the installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power projects. The second component will be the installation of 1.75 million standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps. The third component is the solarization of 1 million grid-connected solar-powered agriculture pumps.

6. The total solar capacity to be installed under the KUSUM initiative’s Component A for the Jaipur DISCOM is 1,724.5 MW, and the additional capacity available for solar power projects is 41 MW.

7. Similarly, the total solar capacity for the Ajmer DISCOM is 1,761.5 MW, and the additional capacity available for solar power projects is 57.50 MW. Additionally, the total solar capacity for the Jodhpur DISCOM is 2,632.5 MW, and the additional capacity is 97.50 MW.

8. Previously, the RRECL issued a draft order inviting suggestions and comments to determine pre-fixed levelized tariff and the rate of purchase of excess electricity by the distribution companies under the government’s KUSUM program that aims to solarize India’s agriculture.

9. Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the guidelines for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kishan Urja Suraksha evam Uthan Mahabhiyan program (PM KUSUM)

10. The recent changes in the KUSUM program have brought some conflicting views to the fore. For instance, system integrators of solar water pump systems have raised concerns about the KUSUM program allowing only manufacturers to participate in tenders. According to system integrators, they play a crucial role in the solar pump industry, and this move by the MNRE could have negative ramifications for the industry at large.

11. On the other hand, the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has expressed its support to the government’s decision to utilize indigenous cells and modules in the implementation of the program.