The Government of Madhya Pradesh is rapidly advancing towards the national goal of generating 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the state is setting new benchmarks in the solar energy sector. As part of this initiative, all government buildings across the state are set to be equipped with solar power systems by December 2025 under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Scheme).
To implement this, separate tenders have been floated for all districts under the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model. Under this model, government departments are not required to make any capital investment for installing rooftop solar systems. They will simply pay for the electricity they consume, and the cost per unit will be significantly lower than the prevailing market rates.
According to New and Renewable Energy Minister Mr. Rakesh Shukla, the RESCO model is based on the principle of "Zero Investment, Savings from Day One, and Net Zero." This initiative is expected to help government offices achieve substantial savings in energy expenditure.
The RESCO model, each project will be implemented for a 25-year term, during which the RESCO agency will also be responsible for full operation and maintenance. Their revenue will depend solely on solar energy generation, encouraging them to maximize output. This ensures greater efficiency and long-term benefits for government departments.
A Proven Model: Between 2018 and 2020, the Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam successfully installed solar plants under the RESCO model in 133 government buildings. These included prestigious institutions like IIM Indore, CAPT Bhopal, medical colleges in Rewa, Shivpuri, Khandwa, Datia, and Vidisha, NLIU Bhopal, AG Office Gwalior, SAI Bhopal, and Power Grid Corporation. All these sites are currently operating successfully under the model.
Minister Shukla expressed confidence that with the efficient implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Scheme, Madhya Pradesh is poised to become one of India’s leading states in solar energy production.
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