This document provides an overview of the market potential for solar irrigation pumps in India. It notes that India's agriculture sector relies heavily on groundwater irrigation powered by diesel or electric pumps. However, India faces power shortages and high fuel costs. The document finds potential to replace conventional pumps with solar pumps, given India's ample solar resources and the significant savings on fuel and electricity subsidies. It explores the drivers and challenges for solar pump adoption, as well as case studies on the economic and environmental benefits of solar irrigation.

1. InfralineEnergy Publications
Solar Irrigation
Pumps in India:
Market Potential
August 2014

2. India is primarily an agricultural nation. A large portion of India’s population is dependent on agriculture for their
livelihood. India's agro exports during 2013-14 touched USD 45 billion as against USD 41 billion in 2012-13 and USD 25
billion in 2011-12. The growth rate of agricultural GDP over last decade is given in Figure1. The major requirement of
agriculture sector is water resources. Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of water needs at present, out of which 60
percent of irrigation water comes from groundwater. The water resources potential of the country as runoff in the
rivers is about 1,869 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). However, after allowing for natural processes like evapo-
transpiration, only about 1,123 BCM of the total annual water potential is available.
Figure 1: Rate of Growth of Agriculture
and Allied Sectors (in percent)
9.05
0.18
5.14
4.16
5.8
0.09
0.81
7.9
3.6
1.42
4.71
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Source: Planning Commission
Figure 2: Power Consumption in
Agricultural Sector (in GWh)
20961 44056
84019 81673 99023 140960 153116114068
175419
280206
322459
455748
785194
852903
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
End of
6th Plan
End of
7th Plan
End of
8th Plan
End of
9th Plan
End of
10th
Plan
End of
11th
Plan
Ist year
of 12th
Plan
Total Consumption Agriculture Consumption
Source: CEA
The water from underground sources is extracted by using pumps. As per the 4th Minor Irrigation census, the number
of pumps used in India under groundwater irrigation is 19.76 million and that under surface lift irrigation is 0.65
million. Out of this, approximately 88 percent of pumps used for irrigation are either diesel or electricity based.
Thus, there lies a potential of replacement of these pumps with solar pumps especially in the areas where solar
energy is available during irrigation periods. About 5,000 trillion kWh per year (equivalent to 600 GW) energy is
incident over India’s land area. In most parts of India, clear sunny weather is experienced 250 to 300 days a year. The
annual radiation varies from is comparable with radiation received in the tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Agriculture sector in India is utilizing almost one fourth of the total power being consumed in the country as depicted
in Figure 2.
Even after an increment in power generation and utilization, the nation still remains power deficit. Thus dependency
on other modes like substitution of direct power by diesel increases.
Till the end of XI plan, total 113.24 million hectares of potential has been created including all major, medium and
minor irrigation projects. Out of this, 89.94 million hectares has been beneficially utilized as depicted in Figure 3.
Complete utilisation of irrigation potential will require development of irrigation sector including water
resources, pumps as well as Government support.
Figure 3: Irrigation Potential Created and Utilized (in million hectares)
76.44
113.24
68.59
89.94
40
60
80
100
120
7th
Plan
Annual
Plan
8th
Plan
9th
Plan
10th
Plan
11th
Plan
Potential Created
Potential Utilized
Source: Planning Commission
Solar Irrigation Pumps in India: Market Potential

3. Solar
Irrigation
Pumps
Drivers
- Growing Irrigation
Potential
- Rising Rural Incomes
- Mechanization of
Agriculture: Increased
demand for irrigation
pumps
- Institutional Support
- Significant Savings in fuel
and subsidy
Competitive Advantage
- Independent of Grid based electricity
and expensive diesel
- Environment Friendly
- Special Support to individuals for Solar
Pumping Systems up to 5kWp
Institutional Support
- Increased Availability of Credit
for Agricultural Activities
- JNNSM Phase II:
> Solar Water Pumping: Thrust
Area for promotion of off-grid
solar
> Manufacture of Permanent
Magnets and Other Motors for
Solar Pumps: Thrust Area for
promotion of Solar
Manufacturing Capability
Key Highlights:
 Current Scenario: Indian Agricultural
Pump-set Market
 Cost of Replacement of traditional
irrigation pump-sets with solar
pump-sets
 Benefits of using Solar Pumps:
 Environmental Benefit
 Economic Benefits
 Case Study: State specific modeling for
solar pump
Key Questions Answered:
 What is the market potential for solar
pumps in India?
 What are the drivers and challenges in
their adoption in India?
 What are the various technology options
for large-scale implementation of solar
pumps in India?
 What are the key factors that impact the
cost of replacement of traditional pump-
sets with solar pump-sets?
 What financing models are adopted?
Solar Irrigation Pumps in India: Market Potential

4. 1. Introduction
• Indian Agriculture Outlook
Unreliability of Monsoon
Current Irrigation Scenario: Ground
Water Irrigation
• Potential of Solar Irrigation in India
Solar Radiation in India
Agriculture Land Holdings
Agriculture Pattern in India
Requirement of Water for Major
Crops
Availability of Power for Agriculture
Water Resources and Irrigation
Potential
2. Agricultural Pump-sets: Usage and
Technology
• Use of Pumps in Agriculture
• Technologies in Use
3. Substitution of Conventional Pump-sets
with Solar Pump-sets
• Cost of Replacement
Capital Cost
Operational Cost
• Savings
Diesel and Electricity savings
Subsidy Savings
Other Benefits
• Environmental Impact
• Challenges
4. Financing Mechanisms
• Subsidy and Incentive Schemes
• Financial Institutions
5. Case Study: Rajasthan Model
• State Specific Hydrogeology
• Usage of Pumps for Irrigation
• Savings in Cost and Fuel
6. Way Forward
• Second Green Revolution: Expected
Path
• Integration with modern irrigation
methods
• Global Experiences
7. Profile of Major Players
Solar Irrigation Pumps in India: Market Potential
Draft Contents & Coverage:

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