The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has secured a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The state achieved the remarkable feat of installing 45,911 off-grid solar agricultural pumps in a single month. The window, spanning from late October to November, marks the fastest deployment of renewable energy technology in the agricultural sector globally.
The certificate was presented during a ceremony in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, confirming that Maharashtra is now the leading state in India—and second only to China globally—for the scale and velocity of solar pump implementation within a specific administrative region.
The backdrop:
This achievement is a cornerstone of the state’s dual strategy: the “Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana” (Solar Pump on Demand) and the central government’s PM-KUSUM initiative.
For decades, Maharashtra’s farmers faced a critical dilemma: expensive diesel for irrigation or waiting for nighttime electricity cycles on the conventional grid.
The state’s move to solarize agriculture aims to break this cycle. By providing off-grid pumps, the government ensures that farmers have free, reliable daytime power. This not only lowers the cost of cultivation but also reduces the massive subsidy burden on the state’s electricity board, allowing for a more sustainable energy ecosystem.
Implementation:
To achieve such high-volume installation in just 30 days, the state employed several key strategies:
- Targeted Deployment: Prioritizing regions with low water tables and limited grid access.
- Variable Capacity: Pumps were distributed in 3 HP, 5 HP, and 7.5 HP variants based on the size of the farmer’s landholding.
- Digital Governance: A transparent online portal allowed for rapid application processing and real-time tracking of installations.
- After-Sales Security: Vendors are held to strict maintenance contracts to ensure the technology remains operational long-term.
The way forward:
Highlighting the impact of this transition, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, said, “Installing over 45,911 solar pumps in one month makes Maharashtra the number one state in India for solar agriculture. This achievement ensures irrigation security, boosts farm productivity and farmer incomes, and reduces the reliance on conventional energy sources.”
Beyond the Guinness World Record, the state has broader ambitions. Fadnavis said that this shift towards solar is part of a plan to lower overall electricity tariffs. By moving agricultural load to solar, the state can reduce the cross-subsidy burden currently borne by industrial and domestic consumers.
The government aims to bring a total of 16,000 MW of solar power into the agricultural feeder network by 2026, which is expected to trigger a 3% annual reduction in general power tariffs for all citizens.
