Lok Sabha Question No. 4204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Benefits of Solar Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Arun Sao, Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4204

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2020

## BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY

## +4204. SHRI ARUN SAO SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has made an assessment of the benefits of using Solar Energy in place of conventional energy;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government has chalked out any action plan to tap Solar Energy resources at large scale;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether the Government proposes to distribute Solar Heaters, Solar Cookers, Solar Pumps and Solar Lights etc. at concessional rates in order to promote the use of Solar Energy; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a)  &  (b)  Solar  energy  has  tremendous  benefits  over  conventional  energy  as    it  is  clean  and renewable  energy,  reduces  greenhouse  gas  emissions  ,reduces  oil  imports,  saves  foreign exchange,  avoids  fossil  fuel  dependence,  is  now  cheaper  than  conventional  energy  and  most importantly helps in achieving energy security  of the country. As per estimates, on an average, every  MW  of  solar  energy  abates  around  1500  MT  of  CO2  every  year  for  entire  life  of  the project.
- (c) & (d) The Government has set a target of installing 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. The Union Government has launched various schemes, as given in Annexure I to  achieve this target.
- (e)  &  (f)  (i)  Under  Off-grid  and  Decentralized  Solar  PV  Applications  Programme  -Phase  III, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 30% of the benchmark cost of the system or the tender cost,  whichever  is  lower,  is  provided  for  solar  street  lights  and  solar  power  plants  in  General Category States  and CFA of 90% of the benchmark cost or tender cost whichever is lower is provided  in  North  Eastern  States  including  Sikkim,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Himachal  Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For Solar Study Lamps, CFA of 85% of the  lamp  cost  is  provided  and  balance  15%  of  the  lamp  cost  is  borne  by  beneficiary student.
- (ii) Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM),  for installation  of  standalone  solar  pumps  or  solarization  of  existing  grid-connected  agricultural pumps, CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the standalone solar pump or solarization cost of existing pump is provided in general category. The State Governments  provide  a  subsidy  of  at  least  30%;  and  the  remaining  40%  is  provided  by  the farmer of which 30% can be taken as loan.  In North Eastern States including Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, CFA of 50% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar pump or solarisation cost of existing pump is provided. The State Government provides a subsidy of at least 30%; and the remaining 20% of cost is met by the farmer.
- (iii) There is no scheme for distribution of solar photo-voltaic powered cookers and heaters at present.

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## ANNEXURE I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (C) AND (D) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4204 FOR 19.03.2020

## DETAILS OF VARIOUS SCHEMES UNDER NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION

- i. Solar  Park  Scheme for setting  up  of  Solar  Parks  and  Ultra  Mega  Solar  Power Projects targeting over 40,000 MW of solar power projects.
- ii. Scheme for setting up of Grid-Connected Solar PV Power Projects by the Central Public  Sector  Undertakings  (CPSUs)  and the  Government  of  India  organizations  with Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
- iii. VGF Scheme for  setting  up  of  5000  MW  of  Grid  Connected  Solar  PV  Power Projects through SECI, which has a separate component of 1000 MW for N-E states.
- iv. Phase-I and Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Programme.
- v. Off-Grid Solar PV Schemes viz.  Solar Street Lights / Power packs, Solar Study lamps, Solar Study lamps under 70 lakh Solar Study lamps scheme, Solar Street light under AJAY scheme.
- vi. Pradhan Mantri - Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM).