In 2024, India’s renewable energy capacity surpassed 200 gigawatts (GW), with solar energy accounting for nearly 47% of this total. India aims to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, underscoring its commitment to clean energy and climate goals. India is uniquely well-positioned to harness solar power due to its vast solar potential, receiving 4-7 kWh/m² (kilowatt-hours per square meter) of solar energy daily across most regions, and the rapid scalability of solar photovoltaic technology. Solar power also produces zero emissions during electricity generation, significantly cutting carbon footprints compared to fossil fuels. Chhattisgarh is a frontrunner in the country’s commitment to clean energy and hosts India’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Chhattisgarh has forecasted generating 8,689 MW of electricity using solar energy by 2030, which is close to its projected coal-generated capacity at that time. But how is this solar energy being utilised to ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water in Chhattisgarh? Sun, water, agriculture and streetlight “Fetching drinking water took 4–5 hours every day, as all 41 households in Narkeli village relied on a single hand pump located about 2 kilometres away,” says Sumira from Narkeli village, while talking about her daily trips in the past, to fill up vessels with ‘red’ water, unfit for consumption due to rusty pipes which supplied it. When the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)’s team visited Narkeli in Koriya district in 2024, all villagers agreed that drinking water was a problem that required immediate attention. Now, a water tank with a 2000 litres capacity and a galvanised solar panel structure along with an HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pipe to prevent rust problems, provides safe and clean drinking water to residents of Narkeli. Every resident now enjoys access to sufficient water, and incidents of illnesses and vomiting induced by consuming ‘red’ water have also decreased, says Amita, another resident of Narkeli. The village school also benefits from improved hygiene, resulting in lower absenteeism. The committee, consisting of villagers, was set up to ensure the effective implementation of this initiative. It looks after its maintenance every six months, making it a self-sufficient unit with ‘no problems so far,’ as the unit is close to completing a year, reports Amita. As people now drink clean water in Narkeli by utilising solar energy, solar lift irrigation has turned barren land fertile in nearby Sonhari village in Koriya district. Powered by 12 solar panels that generate 540 watts of power, groundwater supply can now be utilised to irrigate six acres, which will enable the women farmers to cultivate vegetables such as bitter gourd this year. Earlier, water was not available to irrigate these farmlands and was restricted to people who had fields adjacent to the canals or had borewells along with a guaranteed supply of electricity with backup. Using solar energy for irrigation solves multiple problems with a single intervention. Firstly, rural areas in developing countries often have poor access to reliable electricity or fossil fuel supplies. Secondly, countries where irrigation is essential for agriculture are geographically well-suited and have an abundant supply of solar radiation. Solar lift irrigation helps mitigate risks associated with fluctuations in both fuel and electricity supply prices, and instead guarantees a reliable electricity supply by harnessing solar energy. In solar lift irrigation systems, a solar-powered pump lifts water from an available water source(in this case groundwater) and ensures its supply for agricultural uses through different modes of irrigation. Along with ensuring an uninterrupted supply of water for consumption and agriculture, solar power is also helping villagers in Dantewada, Koriya, and Surajpur districts in Chhattisgarh to illuminate their streets at night. Earlier, even if streetlights were available in some villages, paying hefty electricity bills was often not feasible for villagers, leaving them in the dark. Solar-powered street lights installed in eight villages in Koriya district alone have saved over 9 million watts of electricity, thereby reducing their electricity consumption from the grid and improving safety by helping residents detect wild animals, which in turn reduces instances of attacks. Villagers have also been provided with a toolkit and requisite training after installation to solve any fundamental issues with the solar panel or streetlight, making them self-sufficient. These initiatives are acting as guiding lights on how solar energy can simultaneously address environmental, social, and economic challenges in forested rural regions. In Chhattisgarh, WOTR, along with partners HDFC Bank, HDB Financial Services, Andheri Hilfe and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is harnessing solar power. The work has so far supported: 6,700 households with streetlights 677 families with access to drinking water 100 households with solar-powered irrigation systems for agriculture 245 households with fencing machines to protect their fields in Koriya, Dantewada, and Surajpur districts of Chhattisgarh. By replacing diesel pumps, kerosene lamps, and coal-fired electricity with solar solutions, rural communities have generated 143,645 watts of energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Source : WOTR website