Jaipur: The state govt aims to extend two-block daytime electricity supply for agricultural activities to all districts by 2027, energy minister Heeralal Nagar said Friday.Currently, 28 of the state’s 41 districts are covered, with the remaining 11 to be brought under the programme.Speaking ahead of the BJP govt’s third anniversary celebrations, Nagar said Khairthal-Tijara was the latest district to be included. Ajmer discom has become the first power distribution company in the state to provide daytime supply across all its 14 districts, he added.Shifting agricultural load from night to daytime has also reduced the discoms’ dependence on expensive power purchases during peak hours. The govt has shifted 1,489 MW of agricultural load to daytime, resulting in estimated annual savings of Rs 1,246 crore, Nagar said.Listing the govt’s achievements in the energy sector, he said Rajasthan’s renewable energy capacity had reached 52.13 GW, including 46 GW of solar capacity. The state added 29 GW of renewable energy capacity in the past 34 months after forming the govt and accounts for nearly 17% of India’s total installed renewable energy capacity.Highlighting the contribution of PM-Kusum scheme in shifting supply to daytime agriculture irrigation, he said more than 2,666 decentralised solar projects with a combined capacity of 5.74 GW have been installed, benefiting over 3.9 lakh farmers. The govt has facilitated Rs 1,156 crore in central financial assistance to 1,193 project developers.To manage fluctuations in solar generation and meet peak-hour demand, the govt is also expanding energy storage infrastructure. Nagar cited the Pugal solar park in Bikaner, where a 2,450 MW capacity of solar plants with a 6,400 MWh battery storage system is currently under development. Four developers have been selected through competitive bidding, with the lowest tariff at Rs 3.42 per unit.The state has also approved pumped storage projects at Rampura in Tonk and Singli in Banswara, including a proposed 900 MW plant at Rampura, added the minister.
