Lok Sabha Question No. 3012 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Solar Parks in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3012

ANSWERED ON 19/03/2025

## SOLAR PARKS IN TAMIL NADU

## 3012. SHRI NAVASKANI K SHRI C N ANNADURAI

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

- (a) the total number of solar parks sanctioned under the Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects so far;
- (b) the total solar power capacity commissioned under this scheme;
- (c) the number of solar parks operational in Tamil Nadu and their total installed capacity;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to promote domestic solar manufacturing under the solar park scheme and if so, the incentives provided for solar panel and equipment manufacturing within these parks;
- (e) the status of integration between solar parks and energy storage solutions to address intermittency issues;
- (f) the role of the private sector in developing and financing ultra-mega solar power projects and the incentives provided to attract investment in large-scale solar projects; and
- (g) the steps taken to ensure that tariff rates remain competitive and affordable for consumers?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As on 28-02-2025, the Government has sanctioned 55 nos. of solar parks under the scheme for 'Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects.'
- (b) An aggregate capacity of 12,396 MW solar projects have been installed in the solar parks under the scheme.
- (c) There is currently no Solar Park sanctioned under the scheme in Tamil Nadu.
- (d) The Solar Park scheme allows for manufacturing of solar products like solar cells/modules etc.

In addition, the Government is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, for achieving domestic manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules, with an outlay of Rs. 24,000 crore. This Scheme has provision for Production Linked Incentive (PLI) to the selected solar PV module manufacturers for five years post commissioning, on manufacture and sale of High Efficiency Solar PV modules.

- (e)  The  Government  has  already  issued  an  advisory  to  all  Renewable  Energy  Implementing Agencies (REIAs) and State utilities to incorporate a minimum of 2-hour co-located energy storage systems in their tenders, to address the intermittency issues.

In addition, the Government has also approved a scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a budgetary support of Rs. 3,760

Crore.

- (f) The private sector plays a important role in developing and financing ultra-mega solar power projects in the  country. Currently, the majority  of  utility-scale  solar  power  projects  are implemented by private developers, who are selected through transparent bidding processes. These solar  projects  are  setup  using  both  domestic  and  international  investments. To  encourage  such investments, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 per cent is permissible through automatic route for setting up renewable energy projects, including solar power projects, in the country.
- (g)  The  Government,  under  Section  63  of  Electricity Act,  2003,  has  issued  standard  bidding guidelines  for  tariff-based  competitive  bidding  process  for  procurement  of  power  from  gridconnected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm & Dispatchable RE (FDRE) projects. The specific objective of these guidelines is inter-alia to promote competitive procurement of electricity by distribution licensees.

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