Lok Sabha Question No. 3878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Usage of Solar Power
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3878

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2023

## USAGE OF SOLAR POWER

## 3878. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

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

- (a) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to increase the usage of solar power in the country to meet its net-zero emission plans;
- (b) whether the Government extended the deadline for solar rooftop programme without increasing its budget outlay;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to speed up the process of installing rooftop solar panels in the residential sector?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) Major steps taken to increase the usage of solar power in the country to meet its net-zero emission plans are placed at Annexure-I.
- (b) & (c) The Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II has been extended till 31.03.2026 without any additional financial implication.
- (d) Major steps taken to speed up the process of installing rooftop solar panels in the residential sector are placed at Annexure-II.

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## Annexure-I referred in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3878 to be answered on 23.03.2023

## Major steps taken by the Government to increase the usage of solar power in the country to meet its net-zero emission plans include:

- Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route for renewable energy projects
- Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025
- Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2030
- Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks, to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis.
- Launch of Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc.
- Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power
- Transmission Plan for Integration of 500 GW Renewable Energy capacity by 2030.
- Notification of standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic system/devices,
- Setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments,
- Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
- Government has issued orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.
- Notification of Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022.
- Notification of 'The electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and related matters) Rules 2022 (LPS rules).
- Launch of Green Term Ahead Market to facilitate sale of renewable energy power through exchanges.

## Annexure-II referred in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3878 to be answered on 23.03.2023

## Major steps taken to speed up the process of installing roof top solar (RTS) panels in the residential sector include:

- Launch of Rooftop Solar Programme phase II with Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for  residential  sector  and  incentives  in  slabs  for  the  DISCOMs  for  achievement  of additional RTS capacity in a year over and above the installed RTS capacity of the previous year.
- Launch of National Portal where residential consumers from any part of the country can apply for installation of RTS and subsidy will be directly credited into their bank account under the Programme.
- Applicability  of  CFA  for  RTS  plants  under  Virtual  Net  Metering  for  a  group  of residential consumers in rural areas.
- Development of online portals at DISCOM level and aggregation of demand relating to RTS projects.
- Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 has been issued for net-metering up to five hundred Kilowatt or upto the electrical sanctioned load, whichever is lower.
- Online  portal  developed  for  expediting  project  approval,  report  submission  and monitoring progress of implementation of RTS projects.
- Facilitation of concessional loans from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank.
- Renewable energy included under priority sector lending guidelines of RBI.
- Declaration of trajectory of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) upto year 2030
- Quality standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic system/ devices notified.
- Innovative business models for RTS prescribed.
- Information and public awareness activities through various mediums.