Lok Sabha Question No. 3743 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Promotion of Solar Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: SAVITRI THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3743

TO BE ANSWERED ON-03.01.2019

## PROMOTION OF SOLAR ENERGY

## 3743. SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR

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

- (a) the efforts/steps made by the Government to encourage the States for using solar energy;
- (b) whether the electricity is likely to be generated with solar technique in the vast desert areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is likely to be transmitted to the rural areas at the lower expenses, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government is making any efforts in this direction, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (I/C) (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) The Government has taken various steps to encourage the States for using solar energy in the country. These inter-alia, include the following:
- (i)  Announcement of a target of installing 100 GW of solar energy capacity by March, 2022;
- (ii)   Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2021-22;
- (iii)        Fiscal  &  financial  incentives  such  as  Capital  Subsidy,  Viability  gap  funding  (VGF), accelerated depreciation benefits etc;
- (iv)   Permitting 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route in renewable energy sector;
- (v)   Issued guidelines for procurement of solar and wind power through tariff based competitive bidding process;
- (vi)   Waiving of Inter State Transmission System Charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned up to March, 2022;
- (vii)    Raising funds from bilateral and multilateral finance and development institutions;
- (viii)   Implementation of Green Energy Corridor project to facilitate integration of large scale renewable generation capacity addition.
- (b) Yes, Madam. Six Solar Parks for generation of solar energy with the capacity of 4331 MW have been sanctioned in the vast desert areas of Rajasthan with the details as under:

| S.No.   | Location of Solar Park                   |   Capacity (MW) |
|---------|------------------------------------------|-----------------|
| 1.      | Bhadla Phase-II Solar Park; Jodhpur      |             680 |
| 2.      | Bhadla III Solar Park, Jodhpur           |            1000 |
| 3.      | Bhadla IV Solar Park, Jodhpur            |             500 |
| 4.      | Phalodi-Pokaran Solar Park               |             750 |
| 5.      | Fatehgarh Phase 1B Solar Park, Jaisalmer |             421 |
| 6.      | Nokh Solar Park, Jaisalmer               |             980 |
| Total   | Total                                    |            4331 |

(c)  and  (d)  The  Green  Energy  Corridor  project  is  being  implemented  by  State  Transmission Utilities of eight renewable rich states (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan  and  Tamil  Nadu)  for  laying  over  8500  circuit kilometres  (ckm)  transmission  lines  and  substations  of  total  capacity  of  approx.  19000  Mega Volt-Ampere  (MVA).  The  project  is  scheduled  to  be  commissioned  by  the  year  2020  and  is designed to evacuate approx. 20 GW renewable power upon commissioning.

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