GEDA-led pilot to electrify 50 fishing canoes aims to reduce fuel consumption, introduce clean propulsion and create a roadmap for sustainable fishing across Goa
The Goa Government is taking a new step towards cleaner and more energy-efficient fishing with a pilot project to electrify 50 traditional fishing canoes. Led by the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Fisheries and GIZ, the initiative will introduce electric propulsion while testing the infrastructure, financing and support systems needed for wider adoption.
The pilot reflects Goa Government’s efforts to bring clean-energy solutions into traditional livelihoods, while reducing dependence on petrol and supporting fishing communities with more efficient technology.
Government Brings Clean Energy to Fishing
The Goa Government is starting with traditional canoes as they are considered suitable for testing electric propulsion before expanding the technology to larger fishing vessels.
Goa has around 1,700 registered canoes in the target segment. Most measure between 28 and 38 feet and operate with outboard engines below 10 HP.
Under the pilot, selected beneficiaries will receive a complete electric propulsion package, including a DC motor, marine-grade battery bank, battery management system, charging equipment, spares and monitoring tools.
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Cutting Fuel Use for Fishing Communities
The project is also expected to deliver measurable fuel savings.
Traditional canoes typically make one fishing trip a day, covering around 12–13 kilometres and consuming about three litres of petrol per trip. Based on current fishing patterns, an electrified canoe could save approximately 350–420 litres of petrol during a six-to-seven-month fishing season.
For all 50 canoes under the pilot, the estimated saving could reach 35,000–42,000 litres of petrol in one fishing season.
This allows the Goa Government to assess both the environmental and operational benefits of shifting small fishing vessels towards electric propulsion.
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Government to Build Charging Support
The initiative will not focus only on providing electric motors. The project also proposes common charging stations and jetty electrification to create the infrastructure required for electric fishing operations.
GEDA will test different financing approaches, including battery swapping, pay-as-you-go and service-based models. A conditional partial capital subsidy is also proposed to help reduce the initial cost for participating boat owners and operators.
Training will form another important part of the project, with beneficiaries receiving practical guidance on safe operation, maintenance and efficient use of electric systems.
Pilot to Shape Goa’s Wider Electric Fishing Plan
The Goa Government plans to use the experience from these 50 canoes to understand the technology, servicing requirements, charging needs and financing models before considering a larger State-wide programme.
The scheme and subsidy process are expected to be finalised by October 2026, followed by installation, training and trial runs between October and January 2027. Performance monitoring is scheduled for February and March 2027.
GEDA will serve as the nodal agency, overseeing implementation, procurement, technical supervision and monitoring. The Directorate of Fisheries will assist with beneficiary and site selection, while GIZ will provide technical and quality-assurance support.
With this pilot, the Goa Government is bringing clean-energy technology directly into a traditional sector, while creating a practical foundation for more sustainable and fuel-efficient fishing across the State.
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