India installs over 2.3 million solar-powered irrigation pumps under national clean energy programme

India has installed more than 2.3 million solar-powered agricultural pumps as part of its national push to integrate renewable energy into the rural economy, according to the country’s Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi.

According to IANS, a partner of TV BRICS, the minister said that over one million standalone solar pumps have been deployed under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, while more than 1.3 million grid-connected agricultural pumps have been converted to solar power.

The initiative is designed to strengthen energy access in rural areas while reducing farmers’ dependence on diesel-powered irrigation. By switching to solar technology, farmers gain reliable daytime electricity for irrigation and significantly reduce fuel expenses.

The programme is part of a broader strategy to transform the rural energy landscape, the source reports. According to the minister, renewable energy is increasingly reaching farms and households, allowing rural communities not only to consume electricity but also to generate it through decentralised solar systems.

The government is now preparing the next phase of the initiative, which will introduce a dedicated 10-gigawatt agrivoltaic component. The concept combines solar panels with agricultural cultivation on the same land, enabling farmers to produce electricity while continuing crop production.

Agrivoltaic systems could significantly increase land productivity and create new income streams for rural communities. Estimates suggest that India’s potential for integrating solar energy with agriculture could range from 3,000 gigawatts to nearly 14,000 gigawatts.

India’s renewable energy capacity has grown rapidly over the past decade. Non-fossil fuel capacity has increased from around 81 gigawatts in 2014 to nearly 275 gigawatts today, meaning more than half of the nation’s installed electricity capacity now comes from non-fossil sources.

Solar power has seen particularly strong expansion, rising from about 2.8 gigawatts in 2014 to nearly 143 gigawatts. Wind energy capacity has also increased to roughly 55 gigawatts, while biopower has reached around 12 gigawatts.