In a big boost to the green energy mission in India, the ‘Maharashtra model’ of farmer-friendly large-scale solar projects in the country has been selected for the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026. It has been announced by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that it would examine the ‘Maharashtra Model’.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement while speaking in a special session on the energy transition in the Davos event. He also stated that leaders of various international countries, including Zimbabwe, showed keen interest in the state’s decentral network of solar power.
Asia’s Largest Distributed Solar Network
The centerpiece of the state’s presentation was its massive decentralized solar infrastructure. Maharashtra has successfully launched a plan to shift its entire agricultural power load to solar energy by solarizing agriculture feeders separately.
“We have created Asia’s largest distributed solar infrastructure, supplying 16,000 MW of electricity to farmers. We are taking it all through solar,” stated Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
Leading the National Clean Energy Push
The Chief Minister highlighted that Maharashtra is currently at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s KUSUM scheme. The state’s aggressive deployment includes:
- 60% of India’s solar pumps: Out of all solar pumps installed across the country, more than half are located in Maharashtra.
- 4,000 MW of Rooftop Solar: Significant progress has also been made in urban and residential solar installations.
- 52% Renewable Energy Goal: Under the state’s “Resource Adequacy Plan,” Maharashtra aims to source over half of its total electricity from non-conventional sources by 2030.
Project Timeline and Future Outlook
To ensure the momentum continues, the state has established a new company dedicated solely to managing and supplying solar power to the farming community.
“We created a new company to supply power to farmers, and now around 16 GW of power will be generated through solar, through this distributed system, and we will complete this project by the end of this year,” announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
He credited the transformation to the national vision, adding, “Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and the Union Minister for Renewable Energy, Maharashtra has transformed the entire energy landscape in just less than a decade’s time.”
With the ISA’s proposal to send this model as a case study to other member nations, Maharashtra is now positioned as a global pioneer in integrating renewable energy with rural development.
Electrify your feed! Click here to join our Whatsapp group and to get the latest updates, expert insights, and innovations driving India’s energy storage revolution.
