There are a few Primary Level Cooperative Societies in Gujarat, which have installed standalone solar agricultural pumps and are getting encouraging responses from the farmers. These PACS are also distributing the excess energy generated by solar plants to DISCOMs.
The Gujarat Solar model can be replicated in other cooperatives of the country. One of the tweets from the Ministry of Cooperative mentioned Kheda (Gujarat) based Dhundi Saur Urja Utpadak Sahakari Mandali, which was established in 2016 and farmers associated with the Mandali are running irrigation pumps in fields with solar energy and earning money by selling the excess energy.
Another society in Kheda district namely Petlad Sojitra Sauraurja Utpadak Sahakari Mandali was founded in 2018 by Tejash Kumar Patel.
The PSSU Mandali has executed many commercial projects in Gujarat, including the 2.6 MW Ishnav feeder, which is the first and largest feeder in India. The society has also executed projects for major clients, such as the Panchmahal District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd, and the Petlad – Sojitra Purchase and Sales Union Limited, Apmc’s, Milk Anand District’s Milk Societies etc.
Talking to the Indian Cooperative correspondent Patel said, “ The PSSU Mandali is committed to providing sustainable energy solutions to its customers. The society is working to expand its reach and to offer its services to a wider range of customers”, Patel underlined.
“23 employees are working at our Organization and equally important till now is that we have executed many commercial projects in Gujarat and Executed projects of more than 8 MW of solar power plant”, he added.
He further said, “Some of our major clients include Amul Dairy’s Co-operative societies in the Petlad, Sojitra, Tarapur, Khambhat, Umreth, and Anand – Kheda District, Panchmahal District, Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Petlad, The Panchmahal District Co-operative Milk Producer’s Union Ltd, Godhra, The Petlad – Sojitra Purchase and Sales Union Limited etc”, he informed.
The society’s turnover is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% in the next few years. This growth is being driven by the increasing demand for solar energy solutions in India.