- Feeder solarisation = a dedicated solar plant powers a whole agriculture feeder by day.
- It sits under PM-KUSUM Component C2 (feeder-level), the bigger sibling of C1.
- The pumps and the grid backup do not change for the farmer.
- It is usually DISCOM-led and built at larger MW than individual pumps.
- For an EPC it is a ground-mount plant + grid connection job, won by tender.
Feeder solarisation is one of the most useful ideas in PM-KUSUM, and one of the most misread. This page is a clean definition for EPCs and developers — not for farmers. By the end you will know exactly what a solarised feeder is, how it differs from solarising a single pump, who pays, and what you would actually build if you won the tender.
What is feeder solarisation?
Feeder solarisation is building a dedicated solar plant near an agriculture feeder substation so the whole feeder of farm pumps runs on solar power by day. Instead of fitting panels to each pump, you power the entire feeder line from one solar plant. It is the feeder-level form of PM-KUSUM Component C.
Think of it as solar at the source rather than solar at the pump. The farmer's pump, wiring and connection stay exactly the same. What changes is where the daytime power comes from — a solar plant feeding the line, with the normal grid as backup when the sun is low.
What is an agriculture feeder?
An agriculture feeder is a dedicated electricity line that supplies a cluster of farm pumps from a substation. In many states, farm power runs on separate feeders so the DISCOM can manage and subsidise it apart from homes and industry. That separation is what makes feeder solarisation possible.
Why the separate feeder matters
Because the agriculture feeder is its own line, you can solarise it as one unit. You size the solar plant to the feeder's daytime pump load and inject power into that line. A mixed feeder — farms plus homes — would be far harder to solarise cleanly, which is why feeder separation programmes often come first.
How does feeder solarisation work?
Feeder solarisation works in a simple loop: a solar plant at the substation feeds the agriculture line, the pumps run on that solar by day, and the grid covers the rest. The numbered flow below is the working diagram, built in plain HTML so it stays readable on any screen.
Solar plant at the substation
A dedicated ground-mount solar plant is built near the agriculture feeder substation, sized to the feeder daytime pump load.
Power feeds the feeder
The plant injects solar power into the agriculture feeder during the day, when farmers run their pumps.
Pumps run on solar by day
Every grid-connected pump on that feeder now draws clean, daytime solar power — no change to the pump itself.
Grid backs up the rest
When solar is low, the normal grid covers the feeder, so supply to farmers stays steady.
DISCOM saves on subsidy
The DISCOM cuts the cost of subsidised farm power and frees daytime grid capacity for other use.
Caption: A simplified feeder-solarisation flow. Plant size, modality and metering follow the actual RFP. Source: MNRE PM-KUSUM Component C guidelines · verify feeder modality and example capacities against the current state RFP at publish.
Component C1 vs C2: individual vs feeder
The key split is C1 versus C2: C1 solarises one pump; C2 solarises a whole feeder. Both sit under Component C, but they are very different jobs. The table below lines them up so you can see which one a tender is really asking for.
For the full breakdown of both modes, including economics and execution, see our Component C guide.
Who funds and owns a solarised feeder?
Feeder solarisation is funded broadly by central financial assistance plus a state share, usually through a CAPEX or RESCO model where the DISCOM buys the power at a fixed tariff. The exact split and model vary by state and tender. (Verify: confirm the current funding split, modality and tariff with the SNA and the live RFP.)
CAPEX vs RESCO, in one line each
Under CAPEX, the EPC builds the plant and hands it over, paid through the tender price. Under RESCO, a developer builds, owns and runs the plant and sells the power to the DISCOM at a fixed tariff for years. Which one applies is set by the tender — read it before you model your returns.
Why do DISCOMs want feeder solarisation?
DISCOMs want feeder solarisation because subsidised daytime farm power is a big loss for them, and solar fed straight to the agriculture feeder cuts that loss. It also frees daytime grid capacity and reduces line losses on long rural feeders.
The win for each side
The DISCOM saves on subsidy and capacity; the farmer gets steadier daytime supply for the same cost; the state moves toward its solar targets. That triple win is why feeder solarisation shows up in flagship state programmes — for example Maharashtra's feeder-solarisation push under its MSKVY programme.
What does an EPC actually build?
For an EPC, a feeder-solarisation job is a grid-connected ground-mount solar plant near the feeder substation — not a pump job. You build the array, structures, inverters, the feeder connection and metering, and you handle land, the DISCOM interface and the O&M.
The build, step by step
- Land near the substation — owned, leased or government, per the tender.
- The plant — modules, mounting structures, inverters and balance of system, sized to the feeder load.
- Grid connection — the interface to the feeder and the DISCOM, with CEIG/electrical clearances.
- Metering — to measure the solar injected into the feeder.
- O&M — a typical five-year operation and maintenance obligation.
Supplies must meet the DCR/ALMM content rules and MNRE technical specifications. Those rules are volatile and litigated, so confirm the exact clause against the latest MNRE office memorandum and the RFP.
How do EPCs win feeder solarisation work?
EPCs win feeder solarisation work by bidding competitive tenders floated by the DISCOM or the state nodal agency, usually on the lowest-evaluated (L1) framework. You submit a technical bid and a price bid, with an EMD to bid and a PBG after award.
Where the margin is made or lost
The bid cost sheet decides everything: land, plant cost, grid connection, transport and the full O&M. For a RESCO bid, your tariff has to cover years of operation and still return capital. Model it carefully — and check the DISCOM's payment health, because for years your cash depends on it. Our DISCOM PPA & payment guide covers that risk.
How SuryaHub helps with feeder projects
A feeder-solarisation project is a long, multi-step build with land, a DISCOM connection, a big bill of materials and a five-year O&M — exactly the kind of job that slips through spreadsheets. SuryaHub keeps the tender, the bid cost sheet, the procurement and the DISCOM and CEIG steps in one place, then runs the build and O&M to plan. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every figure here is a scheme estimate to verify.
Run feeder projects end to end
See how SuryaHub handles land, DISCOM steps, the build and O&M.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is feeder solarisation in PM-KUSUM?+
Feeder solarisation is building a dedicated solar plant near an agriculture feeder substation so that the whole feeder of farm pumps runs on solar power by day. It sits under PM-KUSUM Component C2, replaces costly subsidised grid power with daytime solar, and keeps the pumps and the grid backup unchanged for the farmer.
What is the difference between Component C1 and C2?+
Component C1 solarises one individual grid-connected pump, with the panels at that pump and the work usually farmer-led. Component C2 is feeder-level solarisation: a single dedicated plant at the substation powers a whole feeder of pumps, is DISCOM-led, runs to larger capacity, and is the bigger opportunity for an EPC.
Who pays for feeder solarisation under PM-KUSUM?+
Feeder solarisation under PM-KUSUM is funded broadly by central financial assistance plus a state share, often through a CAPEX or RESCO model where the DISCOM buys the power at a fixed tariff. The exact funding split and model vary by state and tender, so verify the current terms with the SNA and the live RFP.
Why do DISCOMs want feeder solarisation?+
DISCOMs want feeder solarisation because subsidised daytime farm power is a heavy loss for them, and solar power supplied straight to the agriculture feeder cuts that cost. Feeder solarisation also frees daytime grid capacity, reduces transmission losses on long rural lines, and gives farmers steadier daytime supply.
What does an EPC build in a feeder solarisation project?+
In a feeder solarisation project an EPC builds a grid-connected ground-mount solar plant near the feeder substation: the module array, structures, inverters, the connection to the feeder, and metering. The EPC also handles land, the DISCOM connection and a typical five-year O&M, all sized to the feeder load in the tender.
How does SuryaHub help with feeder solarisation projects?+
SuryaHub helps EPCs run feeder solarisation projects by tracking the tender, building the bid cost sheet, managing land and DISCOM steps, and running the build and five-year O&M from one platform. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and all figures here are estimates to verify.
Sources & references
The definition, modality and funding pattern come from primary government sources. Feeder modality and example capacities move by state, so confirm against the current MNRE guidelines and the live RFP.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
PM-KUSUM Component C feeder-solarisation guidelines and benchmark costs.
- PM-KUSUM National Portal ↗
Component C dashboard, state allocations and progress.
- SECI ↗
Model tender documents and reference RFPs for solar plants.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE & PM-KUSUM portal sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The definition and process are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Feeder modality, funding splits and example capacities are estimates to verify with the SNA / live tender / latest MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.