Maharashtra Aims for 5 GW Agri-Solar Rollout by September 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has set a September 2025 deadline to commission 5 GW of agricultural feeder-linked solar power under the state’s revamped 'Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0,' one of India’s largest distributed solar programmes.

The directive, issued during a high-level review meeting in Mumbai, instructs officials to complete land clearances, grid connections, and security fencing 'on a war footing.'

The agri-feeder model involves setting up small-scale solar parks, typically 0.5 to 2 MW, adjacent to rural substations, with power supplied directly to daytime irrigation feeders. This provides farmers with reliable, daylight-hour electricity and reduces the state utility’s transmission losses and peak load burdens.

Maharashtra pioneered the concept in 2018 but has only installed around 1.2 GW so far due to delays involving land disputes, slow approvals, and theft of equipment. The government now aims to complete the remaining 3.8 GW within 14 months.

To accelerate implementation, district collectors have been directed to resolve land leasing and encroachment issues within 30 days. The Forest Department will grant immediate clearances for scrubland-based projects, and local police are tasked with identifying theft-prone areas and setting up remote CCTV surveillance.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has been asked to issue tenders in 200-MW blocks and pre-order transformers to avoid supply chain delays.

Experts say this single-state solarisation drive could eliminate up to 1 billion litres of diesel use annually, saving farmers an estimated INR 7,000 crore in fuel and subsidy costs while cutting 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The initiative also serves as a test case for India’s broader goal of installing 50 GW of distributed solar by 2030, with one-third of that capacity targeted for agricultural feeders. If successful, the Maharashtra model is likely to be adopted by other large agrarian states, including Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

For rural regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada, the impact could be transformative, reducing midnight irrigation, lowering power costs, and delivering clean energy just metres from the fields.