Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh to get solar power

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh is toying with the idea of introducing solar power operated agricultural pump sets. So far it has been unsuccessful given the high cost involved.

 

As a large number of agricultural pump sets are working at below efficiency levels, the solar initiative may be a welcome move, but these need to be made cheaper by 60 to 65 per cent to be attractive, experts said.  

 

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has announced that the state government will promote solar pump sets for new agricultural connections with a target of installing 10,000 sets every year for the next five years. According to the plan, installing of solar operated pump sets will enable discoms to provide electricity during the day to farmers. Currently, due to excessive agricultural load, power supply is given during evening and night.

 

Since there have been no incentives to farmers, the pump sets are running at 18 to 20 per cent efficiency. Mr Naidu has also announced replacing the non-ISI pump sets with energy efficient sets. “With proper use of capacitors, the efficiency of the pump can be increased up to 60 per cent,” said power sector expert A. Punna Rao.