The Karnataka government during its budget announced plans to install 40,000 off-grid solar pump sets under Component-B of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme. The estimated cost of this initiative amounts to Rs 11.74 billion.
Under this program, the central government will contribute 30 per cent, while the state government plans to increase its subsidy from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. As part of Phase I of the agricultural pump set feeder solarisation program, steps have been taken to generate 1,320 MW of decentralised energy, benefiting 337,000 farmers. Phase II aims to solarise 430,000 sets through the implementation of 1,192 MW solar projects. Currently, renewable energy accounts for 63 per cent of the total energy generated in the state.