Lok Sabha Question No. 1155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Target to Install Rooftop Solar Panels
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1155

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## TARGET TO INSTALL ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS

## 1155. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that only twenty per cent of the rooftop solar panels target has been achieved in the country till 2022;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the consumers are facing several problems during the installation of rooftop solar panel in their households
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereon; and
- (e) the details of the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to boost the implementation of Rooftop Solar Project System in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)&(b) Against the target to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar (RTS) capacity in the country by 2022, a total of 7.65 GW RTS capacity has been achieved till 31.12.2022.

(c)&(d) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is making regular efforts to make the process for installation of rooftop solar simple and user-friendly. In this regard, a National Portal (www.solarrooftop.gov.in) was launched on 30.7.2022. It has become simple and easy for a residential consumer to apply on the National Portal and get the rooftop solar installed under Rooftop Solar Programme phase II. The residential consumers from any part of the country can apply on the National Portal. The consumers have the choice to select any vendor registered with the local distribution company, solar modules of quality and efficiency, solar inverter and other balance of plants and equipment. The rate of rooftop solar plant is decided mutually by vendor and the consumer. DISCOMs role is limited to issuing technical feasibility approval, installation of net-meter and inspection of the system. After installation and inspection of the system, subsidy is released directly in the bank account of the consumer. The entire process from registration of the application till release of subsidy in the bank account of the consumer can be tracked online on the Portal.

(e)MNRE has taken several steps to promote rooftop solar in the country, which, inter-alia, include:

- Launch  of  Rooftop  Solar  Programme  phase  II  with  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.
- Preparation of model MoU, PPA and Capex Agreement for expeditious implementation of RTS projects in Government Sector.
- 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.

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