IIT-BHU graduate starts solar company to help farmers earn extra income
SolarSure has assisted over 50,000 farmers across six states by setting up solar power projects, according to the Times of India.
Bhavesh Patidar, an IIT-BHU graduate, founded the Indore-based renewable energy company SolarSure to help farmers generate income by selling electricity to the grid. The company provides engineering, procurement, and construction services to assist landowners in developing solar projects on underused or less-fertile land.
According to the Times of India, the firm has commissioned over 300 MW of solar capacity since its launch in November 2024. The company reports that it has worked with more than 50,000 farmers across six states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
Patidar, who grew up in a farming family in Khalghat, Madhya Pradesh, stated that he did not need research to understand agricultural difficulties because he had lived them. He initially tested the concept by setting up a 2 MW solar plant on his family's land under the government's PM-KUSUM scheme.
SolarSure uses satellite data from agencies such as ISRO and NASA, along with artificial intelligence, to assess climate risks and location suitability. The company assists with project design, installation, maintenance, financing, and government approvals for both rooftop and ground-mounted systems.
The company claims that farmers involved in its projects have experienced income increases of more than 30 per cent. Patidar aims to provide agricultural families with a second source of earnings that is less dependent on weather and market prices.