MSEDCL’s Innovative Approach Promotes Green Energy Adoption in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Pune emerges as the first city in Maharashtra to spearhead the establishment of solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, marking a significant step towards sustainable mobility infrastructure in the state.
As part of efforts to facilitate the growing number of electric vehicle users in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has deployed 3,125 charging stations across the state, catering to over 700,000 EV owners. Now, the focus shifts towards harnessing renewable energy sources to power these stations, with the initiation of a solar power project in Ganeshkhind, Pune.
Prasad Reshme, Director of Projects at MSEDCL, recently inspected the solar power initiative underway for the charging station. The project involves the installation of a 60 kW solar power system atop ‘Prakash Bhavan’ in Ganeshkhind, expected to generate approximately 7,200 units of electricity monthly to fuel the nearby EV charging facility.
MSEDCL has strategically positioned charging stations at various sub-centres and administrative buildings, with 18 locations across urban and rural Pune already equipped with these facilities. The focus now shifts towards utilizing solar energy from nearby buildings or open spaces to power these stations, reducing reliance on conventional grid electricity.
Rajendra Pawar, Chief Engineer of Pune Parimandal, emphasized ongoing efforts to transition towards green energy for charging stations under Mahavitaran, with plans to supply power to all 18 charging stations through solar energy projects.
Pune leads the state in charging infrastructure, boasting 1,900 stations, followed by Mumbai with 415. The expansion of charging infrastructure is also evident in Thane, Nagpur, Nashik, and Raigad, aiming to address pollution concerns in these urban centers. With ambitions to increase electric vehicle usage to 25% by 2025, MSEDCL continues to focus on enhancing charging infrastructure, with solar energy integration emerging as the next frontier in promoting sustainable mobility.
