Lok Sabha Question No. 161 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Dedicated Green Energy Zones
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Pushpendra Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 161

ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## DEDICATED GREEN ENERGY ZONES

## *161. SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ

Will the Minister of New and Renewable Energy be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  in-principle  or  formal  decision  to  notify  dedicated Green Energy Zones for renewable power generation, storage and green manufacturing and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  objective  criteria  finalised  for  identification  of  such  zones  including  land availability, grid connectivity, industrial linkage and employment potential;
- (c)  whether  any  assessment  or  inter-ministerial  study  has  quantified  the  expected  district-wise employment, skilling requirements and local value addition arising from proposed Green Energy Zones;
- (d) the States which have been identified or are under consideration for such zones, if any; and
- (e)  the  fiscal  policy  or  viability-gap  support  proposed  for  State  Governments  or  private developers for zone-level infrastructure, manufacturing units and skill development?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, & FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 161 to  be  answered  on  11.02.2026  regarding  'Dedicated  Green  Energy  Zones'  asked  by  Shri Pushpendra Saroj. (a) to (e) Presently there is no proposal under Ministry of New & Renewable Energy to notify dedicated Green Energy Zones for renewable power generation, storage and green manufacturing. However, several  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  support  renewable  power generation, storage and clean energy manufacturing. Details of such major initiatives are placed at

Annexure.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 161 to  be  answered  on  11.02.2026  regarding  'Dedicated  Green  Energy  Zones'  asked  by  Shri Pushpendra Saroj.

Major initiatives taken by the Government to support renewable power generation, storage and clean energy manufacturing are given below:

- (i) Scheme  for  setting  up  of  Solar  Parks  and  Ultra  Mega  Solar  Power  projects  is  being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale.
- (ii) Schemes  such  as  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Urja  Suraksha  evam  Utthaan  Mahabhiyan  (PMKUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, 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), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched.
- (iii) MNRE is undertaking the activity of declaring Renewable Energy Potential Zones to facilitate the  development  of  renewable  energy  capacity  across  the  country.  Till  date,  MNRE  has declared Renewable Energy Potential Zones of 333.6 GW, beyond 500 GW target, in 5 States.
- (iv) 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. Under the Scheme, Letters of Award have been issued for setting up of 48,337 MW of fully/ partially integrated solar PV module manufacturing units.
- (v) Under some of the current schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, namely CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM Components B & C, and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, wherein government subsidy is given, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources.
- (vi) The Government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on import of solar PV cells, solar PV modules, solar inverters, and solar glass.
- (vii) The Government has exempted Basic Customs Duty on import of goods specified in List 18 of Notification No. 45/2025-Customs dated 24th October 2025, for the manufacturer of solar PV cells and modules.
- (viii) Notified  Guidelines  for  Procurement  and  Utilization  of  Battery  Energy  Storage  System (BESS) as part of Generation, Transmission and Distribution assets,  along  with Ancillary Services.
- (ix) Issued National Framework to promote Energy Storage Systems in the country.
- (x) Issued Guidelines to promote Pumped Storage Projects (PSP).
- (xi) Granted 100% waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for PSP for which construction  work  is  awarded  on  or  before June  30,  2028  and  also  for  co-located  BESS projects, commissioned on or before 30th June 2028, with certain conditions.
- (xii) In March 2024, approved a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for the development of large-scale BESS with an outlay of ₹3,760 crore for the development of 13,220 MWh, at a VGF of ₹27 lakh per MWh.
- (xiii) In June 2025, approved another VGF Scheme for 30 GWh, funded through ₹5,400 crore from the Power System Development Fund (PSDF), at a VGF of ₹18 lakh per MWh.
- (xiv) Earmarked  10  GWh  capacity  for  Grid  Scale  Stationary  Storage  applications  under  the 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage".
- (xv) Issued an Advisory on 'Co-locating Energy Storage Systems with Solar Power Projects to enhance grid stability and cost efficiency'.
- (xvi) Government is implementing skill development initiatives under the programmes such as Surya Mitra, Varun Mitra and Vayu Mitra.