Lok Sabha Question No. 1678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-28
Subject: Commercial Production of Solar Power
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1678

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/11/2019

## COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF SOLAR POWER

## 1678. MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE

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

- (a) the total installed rooftop solar power generation capacity of the country at present;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any plan to provide incentives and grid connectivity for rooftop solar capacity;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure large scale commercial production of solar power through rooftop solar plants particularly in rural areas?

ANSWER

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

- (a) As per data captured on the SPIN portal of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), grid connected rooftop solar PV systems of about 1855 MW capacity have been reported  installed  in  the  country  as  on  18.11.2019  (with  and  without  central  financial assistance).
- (b) and (c) The Phase II of Grid Connected Solar Roof Top (GCRT) Programme has targeted installation of grid connected rooftop solar projects of cumulative 40 GW capacity by year 2022.  In  Phase  II  of  GCRT  programme,  the  Central  Financial  Assistance  (CFA)  has  been restructured. Now CFA of 40% of the benchmark cost or tendered cost, whichever is lower is provided  for  residential  grid  connected  rooftop  systems  upto  3  kW  and  20%  of  the benchmark cost or tendered cost  whichever is  lower for  residential  grid  connected  rooftop systems of capacity 3 kW to 10 kW. The CFA for GCRT systems above 10 kW in residential sector  is  limited  to  eligible  CFA  for  10  kW  systems    since  solar  power  is  cost  effective compared to grid tariffs applicable for such category of consumers. The Phase-II of GCRT programme also provides CFA upto 20% of benchmark cost or tendered cost whichever is lower,  for  Group  Housing  Societies/  Resident  Welfare  Associations  (  GHS  /  RWA),  for supply  of  power  for  common  facilities.  Under  Phase  II  of  GCRT  programme  Electricity Distribution  Companies  (DISCOMs)  have  been  made  implementing  agencies  as  they  have direct  access  to  the  consumers,  have  an  organised  invoicing/billing/execution  system  and hence  are  best  suited  to  manage  distributed  and  relatively  independent  clients/prosumers.

Incentives for the State DISCOMs for installing additional capacity above baseline have also been provided for.

(d) The Government is taking a number of steps to ensure large scale commercial production of  solar  power  through  rooftop  solar  plants  in  the  country  including  rural  areas.  These include:

- i. Under  Phase  II  of  GCRT  programme,  State  Electricity  Distribution  Companies (DISCOMs)  have  been  made  implementing  agencies  and  CFA  is  available  for residential sector.
- ii. Incentives  for  the  State  DISCOMs  for  achievement  of  additional  capacity  above baseline capacity.
- iii. Persuading states to notify the net/gross metering regulations for RTS projects. Now all  the  States/UTs  State  Electricity  Regulatory  Commissions  (SERCs) have notified such regulations and/or tariff orders.
- iv. Prepared model MoU, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Capex Agreement for expeditious implementation of RTS projects in Govt. Sector.
- v. Facilitated availability of concessional loans from World Bank and Asian Development  Bank  (ADB)  to  SBI  and  PNB  respectively,  for  disbursal  of  loans  to industrial and commercial sectors, where CFA/incentives are not being provided by the Government.
- vi. Assisting  States  in  development/integration  of  online  portal    and  aggregation  of demands related to rooftop solar projects.

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