First solar park starts solar power generation in Maharashtra

The first solar park under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) 2.0, with a capacity of 3 MW, has been launched in Dhondalgaon village, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. This project is expected to benefit 1,753 farmers by supplying 12 hours of uninterrupted daytime power. Developed on 13 acres of public land and located close to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) substation, the project was completed significantly ahead of schedule by Megha Engineering. Originally slated for completion in 18 months, the solar park was activated just four and a half months after the power purchase agreement.

MSKVY 2.0 was introduced to address the long-standing demand for consistent daytime power for agricultural pumps. Typically, power is supplied to farms in shifts during the day and night, creating challenges for irrigation. By utilizing solar energy, this initiative aims to ensure reliable and cost-effective electricity for farmers, reducing the industry’s cross-subsidy burden. The Dhondalgaon solar park is connected to a 33 KV substation and serves agricultural pumps through five electric feeders, further decentralizing power generation across the state.

DNV’s SolarFarmer offers affordable, scalable solution for solar project bankability

The State Government has set a goal of developing 9,200 MW of solar power under MSKVY 2.0 to meet the needs of farmers by 2025. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, launched ‘Mission 2025’ to solarize at least 30% of agricultural feeders by the end of 2025. As part of this effort, several key developers, including Reliance Industries and Torrent Power, have been awarded contracts to build solar plants, potentially creating 25,000 jobs. The State Cabinet recently approved an expansion of the scheme to increase capacity to 16,000 MW, aiming to provide daytime power to all agricultural pumps across Maharashtra.