Lok Sabha Question No. 4331 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Solar Power in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4331

ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## SOLAR POWER IN TAMIL NADU

## 4331.SHRI M K VISHNU PRASAD

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

- (a) whether there is any proposal to harness solar power in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any initiatives have been proposed or taken to promote solar power for household usage in Cuddalore and surrounding districts which experience high temperatures during summer and if so, the details of thereof; and
- (d)  whether  there  are  any  plans  to  set  up  solar  power  panels  at  Government  colleges,  schools, offices to reduce the usages of electricity in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a)to(c)  Government  has  introduced  various  schemes  to  harness  solar  power  in  the  country including  Cuddalore  district  of  Tamil  Nadu.  The  list  of  operational  schemes  are  given  at Annexure.

Under Component -B of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM), as on 28.02.2025, 80 number of stand-alone off-grid  solar  water  pumps  have  been installed in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

Under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY), as on 19.03.2025, a total number of 3118 applications have been submitted on the National Portal and 412 number of households have been benefitted with installation of rooftop solar plant in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

- (d)  Under  PM  Surya  Ghar:  Muft  Bijli  Yojana,  saturation  of  Government  buildings  including colleges,  schools,  offices,  etc.  by  installation  of  rooftop  solar  is  one  of  the  components  of the scheme.  Detailed  Guidelines  in  this  regard  providing  various  implementation  models  and allocating Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) with experience in deployment of renewable energy technologies to assist Central Ministries & States/UTs in deploying rooftop solar on their buildings, has been issued.

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## ANNEXURE 0REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a), (b) &(c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4331 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## List of the operational schemes to promote solar power in the country

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, power evacuation system water facilities are developed with all statutory clearances/approvals. Thus, the scheme helps expeditious development of utility-scale solar projects in the country.
2. PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every month for One Crore households.
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 (Tranche- 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 to 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. 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,  using  domestically  manufactured  solar  PV  cells  and  modules,  with  Viability  Gap Funding (VGF) support, for self-use or use by Government/ Government entities, either directly or through Distribution Companies (DISCOMS).
6. New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA) with a provision for providing off-grid Solar Lighting where electricity supply through grid is not techno-economically feasible.