Lok Sabha Question No. 323 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-18
Subject: Use of Solar Power in Government Offices in Bihar
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Gopal Jee Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-323

ANSWERED ON-18.03.2021

## +*323. SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

Will the Minister of New and Renewable Energy be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any plan/policy to run various Government undertakings/offices located
- in Darbhanga district of Bihar only on solar power;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any plan/policy devised for the common people to set up solar power station on their land; and
- (d) 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) to (d)  A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT

## Statement as referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question no 323 due on 18.03.2021

Part (a) &(b)The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been pursuing with other Central Ministries and State Governments for installing rooftop solar projects at Government buildings. However, the Ministry has not prepared any plan/policy specifically to run various Government undertakings/ offices located in Darbhanga district of Bihar only on solar power. Further, Bihar Renewable Energy development Agency (BREDA) have informed that they also do not have any such plan/ policy.

Part (c) & (d)The Ministry is presently implementing the following schemes for the common people to set up solar power plants on their roofs/land:

## (i) Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II

Under this programme Central Financial Assistance (CFA) upto 40% of the benchmark cost is provided for installation of Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects upto 3 kW capacity and 20% for capacity beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW for individual households in residential sector. For Group Housing Societies/Residential Welfare Associations (GHS/RWA), CFA is limited to 20% of the benchmark cost for installation of RTS plant of capacity upto 500 kW for supply of power to common facilities.

## (ii) PM-KUSUM Scheme

Under Component A, of the PM-KUSUM Scheme solar power plants of capacity up to 2 MW can be setup by individual farmers/ cooperatives/panchayats /Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/developers  on  barren/fallow/marshy/pasture  or  cultivable  lands  of  the  farmer.  The power  generated  will  be  purchased  by  the  DISCOMs  at  a  tariff  determined  by  concerned State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Further, BREDA have informed that as per 'Bihar Policy for Promotion of Bihar New and renewable Energy Sources 2017' Bihar offers several options for sale of power to solar power generators  permitting  the  investors  with  different  risk  return  profiles  to  participate  in  the market:

- (a) Sale of power to DISCOM (project size > 2 MW)
- (b) Sale of power to DISCOM (project size ≤ 2 MW)
- (c) Sale through Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism
- (d) Sale of power to captive consumers, 3 rd party or outside state through open access

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