In a push for solar energy adoption in India, the government’s e-governance services unit Common Services Centres (CSC) has joined forces with Tata Power to set up as many as 10,000 solar-power microgrids and water pumps in rural areas across the country, reports Economic Times.
Under the collaboration, 3.75 lakh CSCs will be involved in the supply of solar water pumps to farmers. These CSCs will also help in setting up microgrids in residential and commercial establishments in rural areas.
Also, the partnership is expected to create employment for at least two people in each panchayat where the installation of microgrids have been proposed, which could lead to overall job creation for 20,000 rural youth.
A pilot project regarding the same is being conducted in five villages of Uttar Pradesh (UP)’s Lakhimpur Kheri.
The partnership will also help meet the energy requirements of the CSCs and also address the need for 24-hours supply of electricity to the government’s BharatNet in villages.
Meanwhile, CSC has also approached Tata Power seeking support for a rental model for solar water pumps which can be provided to 6,000 farmer producer organisations (FPOs).