Bihar's Agricultural Sector to Embrace Green Energy through Solar Power Plants

Bihar's power distribution companies (Discoms) are embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to harness green energy to power the agriculture sector in a significant move towards sustainable development. Plans are underway to establish a network of grid-connected decentralized solar power plants, ensuring a dedicated electricity supply to agricultural feeders. A senior official familiar with the development revealed these exciting details.

Presently, the state operates 1,354 dedicated feeders catering to agriculture. However, ambitious efforts are in motion to expand this number by around 3,000 feeders by the end of the current fiscal year. These feeders currently receive a mix of electricity from renewable or alternative sources and thermal power plants.

Upon the commissioning of these additional feeders, private agencies will be brought in to establish approximately 700-800 solar plants. Each of these plants will have an installed capacity of about 1 megawatt, efficiently meeting the electricity demands of the agricultural feeders. This initiative aligns with Bihar's commitment to clean energy, as highlighted by the director of Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA), Mahendra Kumar, who also serves as the managing director of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL).

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The groundbreaking effort falls under the Mukhyamantri Krishi Vidyut Sambandh Yojna (MKVSY) and is supported by the centrally sponsored revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS). The comprehensive survey for commissioning these agricultural feeders has been successfully conducted, and the groundwork is being laid for the installation of necessary equipment such as wires, transformers, and distribution networks.

As part of the initial phase of the project, the electricity department has been allocated ₹9,000 crore, with 60% of the funding coming from the Central government and the rest from the state government. This financial injection will help implement the first phase of dedicated agricultural feeders under RDSS until the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Once the transmission and distribution network for the dedicated agricultural feeders is complete, the state plans to engage private companies to set up 1 megawatt solar power plants. The potential for cross-subsidization of solar power generation through viability gap funding (VGF) is being explored. Tenders will be floated by the end of the year to select the most suitable agencies to commission and operate power plants across the state.

Bihar's push towards solar energy in the agriculture sector aligns with the state government's commitment to achieving a renewable power obligation (RPO) of 40% of total power consumption by 2030-31. At present, the state sources about 19-20% of its power from renewable sources. Moreover, solar energy provides a dependable source of power during daylight hours, contributing to efforts to curtail groundwater exploitation. The surplus power generated by these solar plants will be connected to the grid, ensuring a streamlined power purchase agreement with the Discoms.

In a bid to address the irrigation needs of farmers, Bihar had previously introduced a scheme involving solar-powered water pumps with capacities of 2HP and 3HP. Over 2,000 of these pumps, along with photovoltaic panels and converters, were distributed with substantial subsidies. However, maintenance challenges in remote areas led to the discontinuation of the scheme.

The success of similar solar-powered agriculture feeder initiatives in Maharashtra and Karnataka highlights the potential for Bihar's endeavour. Private agencies operating under the Renewable Energy Service Company (Resco) model have proven the financial viability and ease of operation and maintenance for grid-connected solar plants. With Bihar's ambitious plans and commitment to renewable energy, the agricultural sector in the state is poised to embrace a greener and more sustainable future.

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