India experienced a staggering 4000% increase in solar capacity since the IESW 2025 conference, reported Piyush Goyal. The country aims to reach a 500 gigawatt green energy target by 2030, according to Goyal.
India's Energy Journey: Emphasis on PM Kusum Yojana and Renewable Energy Adoption
Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently emphasized India's commitment to meeting its growing energy needs through sustainable sources, round-the-clock. Speaking at the 11th edition of the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, Goyal highlighted the PM Kusum Yojana as a crucial step towards making households and farms self-reliant in energy.
Launched in 2019, the PM Kusum Yojana aims to promote solar energy use among farmers. The scheme provides solar-powered pumps and small solar power plants to farmers, reducing dependence on conventional electricity and diesel, lowering agricultural costs, and generating additional income by selling surplus power back to the grid.
Key details of the scheme include substantial subsidies for farmers. In some states, farmers can receive up to 75% subsidy on solar pumps, while solar pump installations and solar plants receive a 60% subsidy, with farmers paying 10–40% of the cost depending on the system size. Households get a 40% subsidy for systems up to 3 kW and 20% for 3–10 kW systems.
The scheme consists of three components: solarization of agricultural pumps, installation of grid-connected solar plants on barren or cultivable land, and enabling farmers to sell surplus solar power to electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs), creating an additional income source. Eligibility includes farmers with cultivable land, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Water User Associations (WUAs), Panchayats, cooperatives, and related institutions.
The goals of the PM Kusum Yojana are to add around 30.8 GW of solar power capacity focused on agriculture, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and promote sustainable farming. Over 5,500 solar water pumps have already been installed in multiple states, helping numerous farmers transition to renewable energy.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal also announced that India's renewable energy capacity has reached 227 GW, marking a 4,000% growth in solar capacity over the last decade. The minister further stated that India could be the first G20 nation to achieve its Paris Agreement climate targets ahead of schedule.
In addition to the PM Kusum Yojana, Goyal highlighted the PM Surya Ghar Yojana as another crucial step in making households and farms self-reliant in energy. The minister also mentioned the government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) as expected to further boost India's clean tech manufacturing.
Goyal proposed a four-pillar approach for fast-tracking India's energy independence: innovation, infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and value chain integration. He also emphasized the importance of battery systems, pumped hydro, geothermal, and nuclear energy in India's clean energy shift and the need for domestic manufacturing, from raw materials to battery recycling.
The venue of IESW 2025, Yashobhoomi, embodies sustainability through its rooftop solar units, water recycling systems, and energy-saving infrastructure. Goyal congratulated the organizers of IESW for bringing together leaders across clean energy, storage, e-mobility, and green hydrogen. The minister did not discuss any specific plans or initiatives related to agriculture in the given paragraph.
In conclusion, the PM Kusum Yojana plays a significant role in India's energy journey, promoting renewable energy adoption, reducing agricultural costs, increasing farmer incomes, and fostering green energy across rural India. The government's commitment to sustainable energy sources, domestic manufacturing, and innovation will continue to drive India towards a self-sufficient energy ecosystem.
- The PM Kusum Yojana, a crucial initiative in India's energy journey, aims to promote renewable energy adoption, particularly in the agricultural sector, by providing subsidies for solar pumps and small solar power plants, encouraging farmers to transition to solar energy and sell surplus power back to the grid.
- The Union Minister Piyush Goyal, during the 11th edition of the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, highlighted the PM Kusum Yojana as a vital step towards making households and farms self-reliant in energy and reducing dependence on conventional electricity and fossil fuels.
- India's commitment to sustainable energy sources is evident in the government's plans, such as the PM Kusum Yojana, the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC), which are expected to boost the renewable energy industry, lower carbon emissions, and foster environmental-science innovations in the finance sector.
