Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 21: Maharashtra's electricity demand is set to exceed that of developed European nations like Germany, Spain, and Italy by 2030, owing to rapid economic progress, said additional chief secretary of the energy department, Abha Shukla, on Thursday.

Speaking at a seminar on the solarisation of Maharashtra’s agricultural sector, organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Shukla highlighted the state’s ambitious energy transformation plan.

"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra has charted out a comprehensive energy transformation plan with an investment of Rs 3.3 lac cr. The state is well-prepared to tackle future energy challenges," she said.

The event was attended by Mahavitaran chairman and managing director Lokesh Chandra and ADB's director of energy, Sujata Gupta.

Shukla further stated that as Maharashtra pushes towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy, its electricity demand will rise significantly. To meet this challenge, the state plans to expand its power generation capacity from the current 42,000 MW to 81,000 MW by 2030.

"While enhancing power capacity, a strong focus on renewable energy will not only help protect the environment but also lower electricity costs due to the availability of cheaper power," she added.

Shukla also underlined the significance of the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (MSKVY 2.0), aimed at powering all agricultural pumps with solar energy by 2026. This initiative will contribute 16,000 MW of solar energy to the state’s power grid.

Additionally, Maharashtra is set to increase its renewable energy production by 36,000 MW through solar and wind energy. The remaining demand will be met through conventional power sources.
"The energy transformation plan has been formulated after a detailed study of the state’s power generation, transmission, and distribution needs, and its implementation is progressing efficiently," Shukla said.

Mahavitaran CMD Lokesh Chandra termed MSKVY 2.0 a "game-changer," stating that Maharashtra will be the first state in India to run its entire agricultural sector on solar power.

ADB’s Sujata Gupta highlighted the project's significance, calling it the world’s largest agriculture solarisation initiative. "This initiative will not only strengthen Maharashtra’s agricultural sector but also improve the financial health of the energy sector by reducing electricity tariffs," she said.

"MSKVY 2.0 is an innovative scheme, and challenges in its execution are being effectively addressed. ADB is actively supporting Mahavitaran in its implementation," Gupta added.