- Component C solarises pumps that already have a grid connection.
- C1 = individual pump solarisation; C2 = whole-feeder solarisation.
- Feeder (C2) work means fewer, bigger sites and often less competition.
- Plants must usually meet DCR / ALMM rules — confirm per tender (estimate).
- All sizes, terms and content rules — verify with the SNA and live tender.
Component C is the part of PM-KUSUM with the most volume — and the most confusion. It covers pumps that already run on the grid, and it splits into two very different jobs. Picking the right one shapes your whole bid plan.
What PM-KUSUM Component C is
PM-KUSUM Component C solarises existing grid-connected agricultural pumps so they run on solar power instead of subsidised grid supply. The goal is simple: cut the day-time farm power that DISCOMs sell at a loss, and give farmers reliable daytime water. Component C is the largest slice of the scheme by potential capacity.
The scheme is run by MNRE centrally and delivered by each state nodal agency (SNA) and DISCOM. For an EPC, Component C is tender-driven work, not a walk-in subsidy. You win it through empanelment and competitive tenders, then deliver under a contract with the SNA or DISCOM.
C1 vs C2: the two modes explained
Component C has two modes — C1 individual pump solarisation and C2 feeder-level solarisation — and they are almost different businesses.
Component C1 — individual pump solarisation
In C1, you add a solar system to one farmer's pump at a time. The system runs the pump in daylight and can push surplus power to the grid, which is how a farmer can earn extra income. C1 means many small sites spread across villages, each with its own paperwork and survey. It rewards EPCs who can run a tight, repeatable field process.
Component C2 — feeder-level solarisation
In C2, you build one larger solar plant that powers a whole agricultural feeder. Instead of touching each pump, you solarise the feeder that supplies a cluster of pumps. The plant sits near the feeder substation. C2 gives you fewer, denser, bigger sites — closer to a small ground-mount project than to scattered pump work.
Why feeder-level solarisation is rising
Feeder-level solarisation is growing because MNRE feeder guidelines and large state tenders push work toward bigger plants. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have run gigawatt-scale feeder programmes, and other states are following. For an EPC, that trend matters for three reasons.
- Lower per-tender competition — fewer firms can fund and build MW-scale feeder plants.
- Larger tickets — one feeder tender can be worth many times a batch of individual pumps.
- Simpler land logic — land sits near the substation, not at hundreds of pump sites.
The trade-off is capital. Feeder plants need more upfront funding, a larger EMD and PBG, and the ability to carry a build for months before payment. The volume signal is rising, but treat tender sizes as estimates and confirm each one.
C1 vs C2 at a glance
The table below maps the two modes across the factors that change your bid. Read it as a planning aid, not a rulebook — every state tender sets its own numbers.
Sizes, terms and content rules are estimates — verify against the live tender and the latest MNRE order.
Who buys the work and pays you
In Component C the buyer is the SNA and DISCOM, working through a tender and a power purchase agreement. Funding is the usual PM-KUSUM mix: central financial assistance (CFA), a state share, and a farmer share, with the split varying by component, state and category.
Payment security matters more in C2
Because feeder plants tie up more money for longer, the DISCOM's payment record is a real risk. Read the PPA and payment-security terms before you bid — look for a payment-security mechanism, a clear billing cycle and any escrow or tripartite cover. Verify the current terms with the SNA and the live tender, as these change by state and order.
How feeder plants are sized
A Component C feeder plant is sized to the daytime load of the feeder it powers, usually stated in megawatts. The designer matches the plant to the pumps the feeder serves so it can run them in daylight, with surplus going to the grid.
Read the tender's sizing basis carefully
Tenders differ on whether they size to peak load, to connected pump load, or to an energy target. Some allow a small oversize for surplus export; others cap it. Get the sizing basis wrong and your bid is either uncompetitive or undersized. Treat any stated multiplier as an estimate and confirm it against the live tender before you cost the plant.
DCR and ALMM rules for Component C
Component C plants generally must use ALMM-listed modules and meet domestic content (DCR) rules where the tender requires it. This is the single most volatile part of the scheme, so it deserves care.
DCR and ALMM enforcement — including the List-II and domestic-cell timelines and the various "no relaxation" directives — is volatile and litigated. The exact rule that applies to your bid depends on the tender date and the latest MNRE order. Do not assume last year's rule still holds. Confirm the content rule against the latest MNRE office memorandum and the specific tender before you lock your supply.
Bid economics: C1 vs C2
The money works very differently across the two modes, so model them separately.
C1 economics
C1 is a volume game. Margin per pump is thin, so your edge is process: fast surveys, tight logistics, and low rework. Many small sites mean travel, scattered O&M and more paperwork. Build your cost sheet around per-pump cost and a realistic completion rate, not a best case.
C2 economics
C2 is a capital game. A feeder plant needs more upfront funding, a larger EMD and performance bank guarantee, and patience for payment. The reward is a larger ticket with denser execution. Stress-test your numbers against DISCOM payment delays, because a stretched payment cycle can wipe out a thin margin.
Delivery and the risks to plan for
Most Component C losses come from a few avoidable risks. Plan for them before you bid.
- Land and right-of-way for C2 plants near the feeder substation can delay you.
- DCR / ALMM supply can be tight when rules tighten — confirm availability early.
- Payment delays from the DISCOM hit C2 hardest because of the bigger build.
- Liquidated damages for late commissioning eat margin — track every milestone.
- O&M for ~5 years (verify) means you live with the site long after handover.
Whichever mode you target, the winners run a clean, tracked process from tender to O&M. That is exactly where a single operating system helps.
How SuryaHub helps on Component C
Component C lives or dies on coordination — many sites in C1, big milestones in C2, and a long O&M tail in both. SuryaHub runs the whole flow on one platform: tenders and approvals in government workflows, the build in project management, modules and stock in procurement and inventory, and the long tail in AMC and service. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every scheme figure here is an estimate to verify.
Run C1 and C2 on one platform
See how SuryaHub tracks tenders, builds, modules and O&M for Component C.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is PM-KUSUM Component C?+
PM-KUSUM Component C solarises existing grid-connected agricultural pumps so they run on solar power instead of subsidised grid supply. Component C has two modes: C1 solarises individual pumps one by one, and C2 solarises a whole agricultural feeder at once. The exact rules vary by state, so verify with the SNA and the latest MNRE order.
What is the difference between C1 and C2 in PM-KUSUM?+
In PM-KUSUM, C1 is individual pump solarisation, where a solar system is added to each farmer pump separately. C2 is feeder-level solarisation, where one larger solar plant powers an entire agricultural feeder. C2 means fewer, bigger sites for an EPC; C1 means many small, scattered ones.
Why is feeder-level solarisation growing for EPCs?+
Feeder-level solarisation is growing because MNRE feeder guidelines and large state tenders, such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh schemes, move work to bigger, denser plants. Feeder solarisation gives EPCs fewer sites, larger tickets and often lower per-tender competition than scattered individual pumps. Verify current tender sizes with each SNA.
How is a Component C feeder solar plant sized?+
A Component C feeder solar plant is sized to the daytime load of the agricultural feeder it powers, usually expressed in megawatts. The plant is built near the feeder substation so it can supply pumps directly. Exact capacity rules and any oversizing allowance are set per tender, so verify with the live tender document.
Do Component C plants need DCR or ALMM modules?+
Component C plants generally must use ALMM-listed modules and meet domestic content (DCR) rules where the tender requires it. DCR and ALMM enforcement is volatile and litigated, including List-II and domestic-cell timelines. Confirm the exact content rule against the latest MNRE office memorandum and the specific tender before you bid.
Who pays the EPC in Component C?+
In Component C the EPC is paid through the tender and PPA structure set by the SNA and DISCOM, funded by central financial assistance, state share and the farmer share. Payment security and timelines vary by state, so verify the PPA terms and payment-security mechanism with the SNA and the live tender.
Sources & references
Component C rules, feeder provisions and benchmark costs come from MNRE and the state nodal agencies. Treat all figures as estimates and confirm the current rule with the SNA and the live tender before you bid.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Component C guidelines, feeder-level provisions and benchmark costs.
- PM-KUSUM National Portal ↗
Scheme dashboard, sanctioned capacity and state progress.
- MEDA (Maharashtra) ↗
Reference state for large feeder-level solarisation tenders.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, PM-KUSUM portal & SNA sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Component definitions and content rules are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. All sizes, terms and content rules are estimates to confirm with the SNA, the live tender and the latest MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.