BESCOM has invited tenders for 500 MW of solar capacity under the Mukhyamantri Saura Shakti Yojana in Karnataka. The projects will solarise existing grid-connected agricultural pumps through solar PV systems located near KPTCL substations.
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has invited tenders to install 500 MW of solar capacity under the Mukhyamantri Saura Shakti Yojana, aimed at solarising existing grid-connected agricultural pumps in Karnataka.
Under the tender framework, private developers will install solar PV systems, preferably on barren or non-cultivable agricultural land near Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) substations. The model is designed to facilitate the direct supply of solar-generated electricity to agricultural feeders and existing irrigation pumpsets.
Selected developers will lease land from farmers for 28 years and supply the electricity generated by the solar projects to nearby KPTCL substations. The power will then be transmitted to agricultural feeders serving existing irrigation pumpsets, enabling renewable energy to meet agricultural electricity demand.
BESCOM has set a base land lease rate of ₹25,000 per acre per year, with the amount increasing by 5% annually. Developers may offer higher lease rates depending on factors such as the proximity of the land to KPTCL substations and its suitability for project development.
Under the tender, BESCOM will purchase electricity generated by the selected projects at a tariff of ₹3.19 per unit. The utility will also enter into 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with successful bidders, providing long-term revenue visibility for developers.
The initiative is expected to support the expansion of distributed solar generation for agricultural consumption while making productive use of barren and non-cultivable land. Locating projects close to substations can also help reduce transmission requirements and facilitate the integration of solar power into the existing electricity network.
The tender highlights Karnataka’s continued efforts to expand solarisation of the agricultural sector while reducing dependence on conventional power sources. By combining private-sector investment, long-term PPAs and farmer land leasing, the scheme could support the deployment of additional renewable capacity while creating an alternative revenue stream for participating landowners.