REconnect Summit Pune: Maharashtra Paves Its Green Energy Path with Solar, Storage, and Smart Grid
At the REconnect Summit Pune, policymakers and industry leaders spotlighted Maharashtra’s renewable energy push, highlighting solar, battery storage, smart grids, rural electrification, policy reforms, and community-led initiatives driving the state’s green transition.
September 22, 2025. By EI News Network
Speaking at the event, Guest of Honour, BJP National Spokesperson Tuhin A. Sinha, highlighted India’s renewable sector growth, noting, “We have advanced from 100 GW to 260 GW, with a target of 500 GW by 2030.” He also praised Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious climate vision.
Sinha emphasised the role of key initiatives like PM-KUSUM and the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in boosting rural solar adoption and supporting farmers. On policy, he noted the recent GST reforms, which reduced duties on solar components from 12 percent to 5 percent, saying they would “cut project costs and create lakhs of green jobs.”
Addressing challenges, Sinha invited industry feedback on solar waste management, vendor bottlenecks, and implementation issues, pledging to forward their concerns to the government to accelerate India’s clean energy transition.
Further highlighting the MSEDCL’s latest initiatives, guest of honour and keynote speaker, Kanchhan Bhosle, Dy. Executive Engineer at Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL), noted, “MSEDCL remains India’s largest distribution company, catering to all of Maharashtra except Mumbai, with a demand of around 21,000 MW that peaks at 26,000 MW during summer months. Out of this demand, nearly 3,000 MW has been contracted from solar generation. However, actual output remains modest at about 600 million units (MUs) per month, underlining the vast untapped potential for solar in the state.”
She outlined several key government schemes implemented through MSEDCL to increase solar deployment, such as KUSUM A and the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) Phase 1, which targeted rural interiors where electricity access remains a persistent challenge.
“While implementation in Pune was limited, the program delivered tangible benefits in remote regions. Under KUSUM B, which supports standalone agricultural pumps, Pune district successfully achieved its target with projects worth INR 107 crore, enabling solar adoption for many pumps in interior Maharashtra. KUSUM C, focusing on grid-connected pumps and feeders, was eventually merged with MSKVY Phase 2, where work has also been undertaken at the state level,” she further informed.
The largest program so far, MSKVY, has seen significant traction. Bhosle explained that Letters of Award (LOAs) have already been issued for 15,000 MW, and 1,600 MW has been commissioned. The main objective, she stressed, is to provide daytime power to agricultural consumers, many of whom still rely on night-time supply due to load shedding.
“To prepare for this transition, MSEDCL has conducted load flow studies to assess the impact of distributed solar generation on the network and to identify areas needing reinforcement. Measures such as installing new transformers, augmenting substations, and upgrading feeders are already underway, ensuring the system can accommodate new generation capacity and the projected 6 percent annual growth in demand up to 2027,” she noted.
"In Pune, MSEDCL has commissioned 20 MW of distributed solar across four substations and is preparing to integrate battery energy storage systems. A capacity of 750 MW has already been allotted across 21 locations, and a new tender for 2,000 MW (4,000 MWh) is currently open, with bids invited in blocks of 100 MW," Informed Bhosle.
Bhosle also highlighted MSEDCL’s outreach for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, partnering with the Commissioner of Housing Societies in Pune. Through a series of events, the company engaged around 200 housing societies and connected with nearly 5,000 people to encourage installations for common utility consumption.
Another initiative in progress is the Model Solar Village scheme, under which the government has earmarked INR 800 crore to install rooftop solar systems at one crore homes nationwide. Villages with populations of around 5,000 are eligible, and five such villages from Pune have already been shortlisted. A notable pilot project was completed at Dhamani village in Pune, where a 30 kW solar system powers a 25-horsepower lift irrigation scheme. Around 20–25 villagers jointly invested in the project with MSEDCL’s support, showcasing the potential of community-led renewable energy initiatives.
Beyond these schemes, Bhosle emphasised that MSEDCL is also investing in digital upgrades and smart technologies. The utility is adopting SAP S/4HANA to modernise operations and its IT backbone. At the same time, smart metering is being rolled out in phases, beginning with feeders and distribution transformers before expanding to broader consumer networks.
Hari P. Srivastava, Chairman of the Deccan Chamber of Commerce Industriers and Agriculture, in his keynote address said, “Speaking from a consumer perspective, I recall when load shedding was common, and Pune pioneered a model where industries used generators during peak hours, reimbursed by MSEB, making Pune the only city without load shedding for years. Today, there is no load shedding, thanks to the solar and renewable sector’s efforts. Like telecom, where private participation revolutionised access, the solar industry can drive a similar transformation. From 10 MW in 2010 to over 100 GW today, and aiming for 500 GW, the focus must now be on reducing costs.”
He further noted, “Regulatory facilitation and industry innovation can lower tariffs, make energy accessible, and even enable exports. This revolution is vital, and I am confident the sector here will continue bridging gaps and driving sustainable growth for Maharashtra.”
Hemant Arora, Director India at Omnimedia Publications, in his opening speech, said, “We gather today at a critical juncture. Maharashtra, India’s largest industrial hub and power consumer, stands at the forefront of the clean energy transition. By 2030, our state’s electricity demand is expected to rise to over 280 billion units, with peak demand climbing from 29 GW to 45 GW. Meeting this challenge is not just about producing more energy but producing it sustainably, reliably, and inclusively.”
He further said, “The Government of Maharashtra has set an ambitious yet achievable target of 38 GW of renewable energy capacity, backed by INR 3.3 trillion in investment and nearly 700,000 green jobs. This vision will decarbonise our energy system, create opportunities across industries, empower communities, and reinforce Maharashtra’s leadership in India’s clean energy journey. REconnect Pune will explore accelerating C&I and residential solar, building a solar manufacturing base, and leveraging synergies between energy storage, EVs, and smart grids.”
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