Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (STARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Setting up of Solar Parks
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Durga Das Uikey, Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 230 ANSWERED ON 22.12.2022

## SETTING UP OF SOLAR PARKS

## +*230. SHRI DURGA DAS (D.D.) UIKEY SHRI RODMAL NAGAR

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

- (a) whether the Government has approved setting up of new solar parks in the country, especially in Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up solar power plants in tribal areas   of Madhya Pradesh also and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the time by which such plants are likely to be set up in the said areas;
- (d) the efforts being made by the Government to increase the capacity of solar power generation; and
- (e) the efforts being made by the Government to make the power distribution system accessible to the general public in hilly and plateau regions of the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT

## STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 230 FOR 22.12.2022 REGARDING SETTING UP OF SOLAR PARKS

(a) to (e) Based on the proposals received from the States, Government have approved 57 solar parks of aggregate capacity 39,285 MW to 13 States, including Madhya Pradesh, in the country. Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh  have  reported  that  Solar  plants  are  planned  based  on  the availability of contiguous and barren land parcels. It has further reported that as of now, no solar plants are proposed in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh.

The details of steps taken by Government to promote renewable energy, including solar energy, in the country, inter-alia,  include:

- permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route,
- Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30 th June 2025,
- Declaration of a trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2029-30,
- 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  2002 (LPS rules).
- Launch of Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy power including solar power through exchanges.

The  Government  is  also  implementing  various  schemes  for  promotion  of  solar  energy  in  the country. The details of presently functional solar schemes are given at Annexure.

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 230 FOR 22.12.2022 (10 TH  POSITION) REGARDING SETTING UP OF SOLAR PARKS

## DETAILS OF PRESENTLY FUNCTIONAL SOLAR SCHEMES

1. Scheme for Development of solar parks and Ultra-mega Solar Power Projects with a target of setting up 40,000 MW capacity. Under the scheme, the infrastructure such as land,  roads,  transmission  system  (internal  and  external),  pooling  stations,  water feasibility is developed with all statutory clearances/ approvals. Thus the solar project developers have plug and play benefit.
2. Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-II (Government Producer Scheme) for setting  up  12,000  MW  grid-connected  Solar  Photovoltaic  (PV)  Power Projects by Government Producers with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support, for selfuse or use by Government/ Government entities, either directly or through Distribution Companies (DISCOMS).
3. Production Linked Incentive scheme 'National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules' for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules (Tranches- I & II).
4. PM-KUSUM Scheme to promote small Grid Connected Solar Energy Power Plants, stand-alone  solar  powered  agricultural  pumps  and  solarisation  of  existing  grid connected agricultural pumps. The scheme is not only beneficial to the farmers but also States  and  DISCOMs. States  will  save  on  subsidy  being  provided  for  electricity  to agriculture  consumers  and  DISCOMs  get  cheaper  solar  power  at  tail  end  saving transmission and distribution losses.
5. Rooftop  Solar  Programme  Phase  II  for  grid  connected  solar  rooftop  power  plants. Under  this  Programme,  subsidy  is  provided  for  residential  sector  and  performance linked incentives to DISCOMs for achieving capacity addition in rooftop solar above baseline.
6. Green Energy Corridors (GEC) : to create intra-state transmission system for renewable energy projects. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to set up transmission infrastructure for evacuation of Power from Renewable Energy projects in total ten States (considering both the phases of GEC)-
7. (i) Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-I
8. (ii). Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II