Energy-Efficient Irrigation Pumps

Karnataka is the second most arid state in India, after Rajasthan. The decline in rainfall in recent years has seen an increased reliance on groundwater for fulfilling agricultural water needs in Karnataka. This requires significant power consumption because a majority of irrigation pump (IP) sets, used to pump groundwater, are electrical. Most of the existing pump sets operate at a very low efficiency, leading to a high electricity consumption for the same unit of productivity.

Dedicated Feeders for IPs Using Solar-Based Generation

The agricultural sector in Karnataka accounts for 39% of the state’s electricity (~21,344 MU). This is provided for free, or at heavily subsidised rates, to farmers. Moreover, electricity is not metered. This has led to an estimated revenue loss of INR 9,295 crore for the state DISCOMs. The Government has attempted several initiatives to reduce this loss. One option being followed is segregation of domestic and agricultural feeders. The feeder separation provides an opportunity for use of solar energy to supply electricity to agricultural feeders.