Small-scale solar pumping systems in India: Analysis of three implementation models

The replacement of diesel- or grid-powered water pumps with solar energy offers environmental, economic, and social benefits via climate change mitigation, improved livelihoods, and greater quality of life. As a result, India's government is promoting solar pumping technologies via direct capital subsidies, financing schemes, and legal and regulatory development. Despite such attention, and while solar pump systems have shown significant promise, challenges in implementation continue to prevent the full realization of environmental, economic, and social gains. In this paper, we examine three small-scale system implementation models across India: grant-funded pay-it-forward systems for agricultural use in Uttar Pradesh, grid-tied irrigation systems in Karnataka, and direct-to-customer financed systems for salt farming in Gujarat. We explore the feasibility of these models through financial analysis coupled with knowledge gained from interviews with key stakeholders, including system users, manufacturers, installers, and system integrators. We find that institutional factors weigh heavily on whether systems are properly introduced, used, and maintained. Particularly, ensuring long-term project sustainability requires sound project economics, proper system sizing, and effective pre-/post-sales service. Greater understanding of the interdependency between hydrogeological context, technological specifications and financial realities among project implementers and system users will be essential in scaling up solar pump systems effectively.