Lok Sabha Question No. 2930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-05
Subject: Solar Projects
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: P.P. Chaudhary, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Arjunlal Meena, Sunil Kumar Singh, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2930

ANSWERED ON-05/08/2021

## SOLAR PROJECTS

2930. SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA

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

- (a) the number of solar projects currently functional in the country;
- (b) whether India's solar capacity has increased during the last five years;
- (c) if so, the percentage increase thereof over the last five years and the reasons for the same;
- (d) whether the Government has set any target to increase the solar capacity across the country;
- (e) if so, the details thereof including the time by which it is likely to be completed;
- (f) the measures taken by the Government to achieve the said target; and
- (g) the details of benefits these projects would have for the State of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As on 30.6.2021, solar power projects of 42,335.45 MW capacity have been installed in the country.

(b)&(c)  India's  installed  solar  power  Capacity  has  increased  from  6,762.85  MW  as  on 31.03.2016 to 42,335.45 MW as on 30.06.2021. As such, there is an increase of 526 %.

(d)&(e)The Government has set a target of achieving 100 GW of installed solar power capacity by December, 2022. The status, as on 30.06.2021 is as follows:

Capacity installed: 42.335 GW

Capacity under implementation:36.884 GW

Capacity under tendering: 19.761 GW

Extension of 5.5 months has been given on account of COVID-19 for completion of these projects.

- (f)  The  Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  achieve  its  Renewable  Energy  targets, including the said target of 100 GW of solar energy in the country. These include the following:
- declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022
- 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 30th June 2025,
- setting up of solar parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis,
-  schemes  such  as  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Urja  Suraksha  evam  Utthaan  Mahabhiyan  (PMKUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc,
-  laying  new  transmission  lines  and  creating  new  sub-station  capacity  for  evacuation  of renewable power,
- 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  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.
-  Conducting skill development programmes to create a pool of skilled manpower for setting up, operation and maintenance of RE projects.
- (g)  A  solar  capacity  of  6.58  GW  has  been  installed  in  Rajasthan  so  far.  Apart  from  the environmental benefits, this has benefitted the State in the following ways:
- (i) financial benefit to people whose barren land has been acquired/leased/purchased for these projects;
- (ii) local employment creation; and
- (iii) economic development of areas around the projects.

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