The North News
New Delhi, December 19
Punjab is accelerating its transition to clean energy by expanding solar power and agri-waste projects, with the state government describing 2025 as a turning point in its renewable energy journey. Speaking in Chandigarh on Friday, Punjab’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy Sources, Aman Arora, said the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) had translated policy into action, positioning the state as a leader in sustainable energy. “The sun now powers homes and farms, while agricultural waste fuels clean energy,” he said.
As part of the push, a 4 MW ground-mounted solar power project was commissioned in July this year at Bhagi Bandar village in Bathinda district. Two more solar projects of 4 MW each are under implementation at Kothe Malluana and Shergarh, also in Bathinda. PEDA has additionally installed 16 grid-connected agricultural pumps on the Peerkot feeder to reduce carbon emissions in farming, with four more pumps currently being set up.
Officials said 4,850 off-grid standalone solar water pumps have been installed across the state, while 277 villages have been identified for development as self-reliant energy hubs under the Model Solar Village Scheme. Rooftop solar plants with a combined capacity of 2.6 MW have been installed on 148 government buildings this year.
Solar street lighting has also expanded, with more than 4,169 lights installed in 299 villages, and another 1,221 lights under installation in 65 villages, aimed at improving safety and community life after dark. Alongside solar power, Punjab is focusing on converting crop residue into energy. Mr Arora said 57 compressed biogas (CBG) projects, with a combined capacity of 822 tonnes per day, have been allocated and are expected to consume more than 2.7 million tonnes of paddy straw annually once operational. Six CBG projects with a capacity of 107.48 tonnes per day are already functional.
Five more biogas plants and a large bio-ethanol facility planned in Bathinda are projected to consume over 330,000 tonnes of paddy straw each year, addressing both stubble management and energy needs. Other projects include a 40 MW canal-top solar plant, a 14 MW co-generation plant at Batala Sugar Mills, and a 2 MW mini-hydel project in Dhariwal.
PEDA’s efforts have earned national recognition, with the agency receiving the second prize in the State Performance Award (Group-3) under NECA 2025, presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
Arora said the Bhagwant Mann-led government was pursuing a model where energy conservation, farmer welfare and environmental protection go hand in hand. “True progress is seen in lower irrigation costs for farmers, better-lit villages and cleaner air,” he said.
Administrative Secretary for New and Renewable Energy Sources, Basant Garg, added that Punjab was no longer merely adopting renewable energy but integrating it into its development strategy to achieve energy self-reliance and economic resilience.
