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November 2024, Bhopal – IDinsight and the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s New and Renewable Energy (NRE) Department have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the state’s transition to solar energy. The partnership aims to support the state in meeting its 2030 goals of generating an extra 30,000 megawatts of green power and ensuring that renewable sources meet half of Madhya Pradesh’s energy needs. IDinsight aims to provide data-driven decision support for critical solar programs like Solar Parks Development, PM Surya Ghar Scheme, Solarisation of Government Buildings, and PM-KUSUM (Component B), benefiting farmers, residential communities, and public institutions across the state.
Madhya Pradesh has made significant progress in renewable energy, but achieving its 2030 goals requires timely, local, and actionable data. Without this kind of rapid, localised insight, energy programs risk being inefficient or underutilised. The state needed IDinsight’s support with:
This collaboration offers the chance to embed data science and field insights directly into the planning and rollout of renewable energy projects, informing:
IDinsight’s DataDelta and data science teams led four core streams of work across the state:
In collaboration with the department, we developed a custom geospatial algorithm to group government-owned land (khasras) into contiguous parcels for potential solar parks. We also used publicly available geospatial datasets to layer in specific land characteristics related to surface-level water bodies, vegetation, built-up areas, and elevation. Through this process, we were able to produce preliminary site assessments rapidly and cost-effectively, and provided the department with an estimate of suitable areas in the identified parcels for solar panel installation.
We identified over 9,500 hectares of usable land suitable for solar park development. This will allow the NRE department to bypass manual pre-screening and help expedite vendor negotiations and site selection, saving time and public resources.
In Phase 2 of the partnership, we plan to expand the tool’s application to 7–10 additional districts and develop a user-friendly web platform for the government to use the tool independently.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme is a government initiative aimed at promoting solar-powered irrigation pumps to enhance energy security, reduce reliance on diesel-based irrigation, and promote agricultural sustainability for farmers. PM-KUSUM Component B specifically focuses on providing financial assistance to farmers to install standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps in off-grid areas/areas with unreliable grid supply. In Madhya Pradesh, Phase I of the KUSUM-B scheme was implemented from 2018-23, wherein ~7000 solar pumps were allotted across the state. In Phase II, starting in 2025, the department plans to scale up the deployment of new solar pumps. This programme is currently implemented in 5 districts in Madhya Pradesh.
Before scale-up, the government wished to understand farmers’ experiences with solar pumps and the drivers of adoption and use. They required these insights to inform campaigns encouraging additional farmers to transition from conventional electrical or diesel pumps.
Secondly, they needed actionable recommendations for improving the implementation of the KUSUM-B scheme, addressing various aspects of the programme, including the application process, pump installation, maintenance, and available recourse in cases of damage or theft.
IDinsight conducted an on-ground qualitative study with 27 farmers who received solar pumps under Phase I of the PM-KUSUM B Scheme. As outputs, we provided video testimonials from farmers showcasing successful adoption and use of solar pumps, a detailed report summarising qualitative interview findings, and actionable recommendations for the state to consider for future KUSUM-B implementation.
The survey’s findings will help refine awareness strategies, improve vendor accountability, and strengthen support systems during the next phase of KUSUM-B’s rollout.
Under the department’s vision to solarise all state government buildings by 2030, vendors are currently conducting drone surveys to assess rooftop capacity for solar systems. To optimise drone flight pathways, we developed a clustering algorithm to group government buildings based on varying distance thresholds (500m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km). Then, we calculated cost estimates of conducting drone surveys at these grouping thresholds.
Our work will help the department estimate the approximate costs of sanctioning drone surveys and access optimal survey routes. This information can be used to negotiate with vendors on optimal prices for drone surveys, saving financial resources to the exchequer.
We conducted a capacity assessment of 4 colonies in Bhopal using desk-based analysis and geospatial data science, which were discussed with the MP Urja Vikas Nigam team. We also conducted field visits to assess available solar capacity and calculate estimates of potential CO2 reduction and financial savings for residential colonies.
Discussions are underway with the residential colonies for installing solar panels at subsidised rates, reducing their reliance on electric energy.
With the successful completion of Phase I, we are now working with partners to initiate Phase II, which will scale our land identification work, strengthen internal tools for the government, and continue supporting implementation across solar programs.
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