en.Wedoany.com Reported - A Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, is saving over ₹23 lakh in annual operating costs by installing a rooftop solar system. The system, installed by Freyr Energy for the Marathwada Agro Process Farmer Producer Company, has a capacity of 221 kW and meets approximately 61% of the organization's total electricity demand.
Located in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats, the Marathwada region is one of the most drought-prone areas in Maharashtra, where declining groundwater levels and frequent droughts pose severe challenges to agriculture. Nearly 79% of farmers in the region are smallholders with limited financial buffers, making them highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Local grassroots agricultural collectives, such as FPOs, rely heavily on electricity for core activities like cold storage, processing, and micro-irrigation, and frequent unscheduled power outages have driven them to seek reliable alternative energy solutions like rooftop solar.
The Marathwada Agro Process Farmer Producer Company has an annual electricity demand of approximately 5,15,500 kWh, while the rooftop solar plant generates about 3,16,800 kWh per year, significantly reducing its reliance on the grid. The system primarily powers milk processing, cold storage, and other utility operations. Since its commissioning, the FPO has reported annual savings of ₹23,12,640, with an expected payback period of 3 to 4 years. Radhika Choudary, Co-founder and Director of Freyr Energy, stated that this case demonstrates how clean energy can improve efficiency, create cost predictability, and enhance the long-term viability of rural agricultural enterprises.
Rooftop solar adoption is accelerating in the Marathwada region. Under the "PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana," a total of 93,251 rooftop solar systems with a combined capacity of 341 MW have been installed across eight districts in the region, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar leading at over 37,487 installations. Freyr Energy has installed nearly 13 MW of solar capacity in Maharashtra and plans to solarize over 20,000 households and 2,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by 2030. Freyr Energy is a pan-India rooftop solar company offering system design, installation, financing assistance, and long-term maintenance services, and currently operates 10 solar experience centers across India.
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