Life in a village in Gujarat has been transformed by the advent of solar power cooperative. It is said to be the world’s “first solar irrigation cooperative. The cooperative was formed by six vegetable farmers, reports Indian Express.
The Dhundi Saur Urja Utpadak Sahakari Mandali, in Kheda district, was recently given a certificate of appreciation by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for selling surplus power produced in their farms to the electricity grid. The chief minister felicitated the unique cooperative when she was in Anand to inaugurate the 12th edition of Krishi Manotsav.
Sources are quoted saying each farmer installed a solar irrigation pump in their fields by contributing a partial amount, with International Water Management Institute (IWMI) paying the remaining amount. The solar pumps were connected to the power grid of Madhya Gujarat Vij Company (MGVCL), and a 25-year power purchase deal was signed recently allowing the farmers to sell back the surplus energy at a rate of Rs 4.63 per kWh equivalent of solar energy.