Telangana Village Becomes South India's First to be Fully Solar-Powered
Kondareddypally in Telangana has become the first village in Southern India and the second in the country to be fully powered by solar energy. Under a ₹10.53 crore project supported by central subsidy and corporate funding, 514 houses and 11 government buildings were equipped with rooftop solar panels. The initiative not only provides residents with uninterrupted power and eliminates electricity bills but also generates income for the village, which earned approximately ₹5 lakh in September by selling surplus energy back to the grid.
Unpacked:
The ₹10.53 crore project was funded through a combination of central government subsidies and corporate contributions. The central government provided financial support under renewable energy schemes, while corporate funding likely came as part of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy in rural India.
Common challenges include poor maintenance of solar equipment, lack of local technical expertise for repairs, inconsistent funding for long-term upkeep, and occasional regulatory hurdles. These issues can lead to power outages, reduced reliability, and difficulty sustaining the benefits of solar electrification over time.
Mukhra (K) village in Adilabad, Telangana, was the first in India to be fully solar-powered. Like Kondareddypally, Mukhra (K) equipped every house with solar panels and powers public buildings, saving money and earning national recognition. Both serve as model villages for rural solar electrification.
When the village produces more solar energy than it consumes, the surplus is sent to the main electricity grid. The state electricity board pays the village for this excess power, creating a revenue stream—Kondareddypally earned about ₹5 lakh in September through such sales, helping fund community needs.