Clean energy gains a foothold in India, but coal still rules
For six years, farmer Pravinbhai Parmar in west India has been using solar power for irrigation
By SIBI ARASU and MARY KATHERINE WILDEMAN
Published - Jan 22, 2023, 09:42 PM ET
Last Updated - Jun 23, 2023, 01:27 AM EDT
BENGALURU, India (AP) — For six years, Pravinbhai Parmar's farm in Gujarat state in western India has been lined with rice, wheat and solar panels.
The 36-year-old is among a handful of farmers in his native Dhundi village who have been using solar power to irrigate crops.
“I was spending nearly 50,000 rupees ($615) every year to water my crops,” said Parmar. “With solar I spend nothing."
Parmar also sells the excess electricity to his state’s grid, earning an average of 4,000 rupees ($50) a month.
