CSC, Tata Power to set up solar-powered microgrids in India

The Indian government's e-governance services, CSC announced a collaboration with Tata Power to set up solar-powered microgrids and water pumps in rural areas.

Tata Power has proposed to set up 10,000 microgrids to support rural consumers through Common Service Centres (CSCs), suggests reports. The collaboration is expected to amplify the government's latest drive to provide clean and sustainable energy to households and businesses in rural areas.

"This partnership will increase energy access and provide an economic opportunity to the company by providing off-grid or microgrid power. This will help rural customers move away from burning relatively expensive fuels such as kerosene and can provide basic energy services and meet economic needs," said Dinesh Tyagi, MD, CSC e-Governance Services India.

As per the partnership, CSC will supply more than 3.75 lakh solar water pumps to farmers and help in setting up microgrids in residential and commercial establishments in rural areas. In addition to providing clean & sustainable energy, the project is expected to create employment for minimum of two persons in each panchayat where microgrids are proposed to be installed. The partnership is looking to support Village-level Entrepreneurs (VLE), who would then help in providing connection to the rural community, including MSME units for commercial purposes.

CSC has also approached Tata Power to support a rental model for solar water pumps that can be provided to 6,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs), which CSC is setting up to support farmers across the country.

"This association will also meet the energy requirements of CSCs and address the need of 24-hour supply of electricity to BharatNet in villages. A micro-grid has been piloted in five villages of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and learning from this will be useful in the full rollout," PTI report stated.