The Danish water pump major, Grundfos, will soon introduce a range of solar-powered water pumps for use in agriculture, industries and commercial buildings.

Grundfos has been selling solar water pumps in India but of low power — 900 W to 1,400 W. Last year, it sold 2,500 pumps, which was 25 per cent higher than in the previous year. Now, Grundfos India has sent a proposal to Denmark for approval for producing four products up to 7.5 kW.

The pump plus the inverter would cost around Rs 2.5 lakh, but the solar panels would cost close to Rs 70 a watt, sources in the company said. However, this is on gross basis, for the customer would get capital subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The potential for solar powered pumps in India, especially for use in agriculture, is enormous.

A recent KPMG study puts the potential at 12.25 million pumps, of a total capacity of 6,730 MW in the year 2020-21— only in that year.

mramesh@thehindu.co.in

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