Lok Sabha Question No. 1864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-28
Subject: Rooftop Solar Power Systems
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1864

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2022

## ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS

## 1864. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR

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

- (a)  whether Government is aware of and analysed the reason for low take-off of rooftop solar power system in the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether any subsidy element is being proposed for rooftop solar project, especially in rural areas where the energy supply is not dependable; and
- (d)  the efforts being made by Government to popularise rooftop solar system in the country in coordination with the State Governments?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)to(d) To promote rooftop solar (RTS) in the country including in rural areas, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II. The implementation guidelines for the Programme were issued in August 2019.

For individual households, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) upto 40% of the benchmark cost is provided for the first 3 kW capacity of RTS plants and upto 20% of the benchmark cost for capacity beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW. For Group Housing Societies/Residential Welfare Associations (GHS/RWA), CFA is upto 20% of the benchmark cost for RTS plants of capacity upto 500 kW used for supply of power to common facilities. Total 4000 MW capacity is targeted in the residential sector under the Programme by 2022 against which around 1385 MW have been installed in approximately 3.38 lakh households.

The progress in Phase-II was significantly affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, there are certain issues faced during implementation of Programme, these include delay in tendering process by DISCOMs, less number of empanelled vendors, vendors complaining delay in release of subsidy by DISCOMs, the DISCOMs  taking  long  time  to  upload  reports  and  other  documentations  for  release  of  subsidy  from Ministry, etc.

To address these issues, Ministry has issued procedure for simplification of Rooftop Solar Programme. Under simplified procedure, interested residential consumers from any part of the country can apply on a National Portal for rooftop solar without waiting for DISCOM to finalise tender. The consumer will have the  choice  to  select  any  vendor  registered  with  DISCOMs  and  choose  quality  and  efficiency  of  solar equipment. The rate of rooftop solar plant will be decided mutually by vendor and the consumer. The subsidy  is  fixed  and  same  for  the  entire  country.  DISCOMs  role  will  be  limited  to  issuing  technical feasibility approval, installation of net-meter and inspection of the system. After installation and inspection of the system, subsidy will be released directly in the bank account of the consumer. All the process starting from registration of application till the release of subsidy can be tracked online in the portal. The vendor registration process has also been made simple.

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