Question : Benefits of Solar Energy

(a) whether the Government has made an assessment of the benefits of using Solar Energy in place of conventional energy;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has chalked out any action plan to tap Solar Energy resources at large scale;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government proposes to distribute Solar Heaters, Solar Cookers, Solar Pumps and Solar Lights etc. at concessional rates in order to promote the use of Solar Energy; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) & (b) Solar energy has tremendous benefits over conventional energy as it is clean and renewable energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions ,reduces oil imports, saves foreign exchange, avoids fossil fuel dependence, is now cheaper than conventional energy and most importantly helps in achieving energy security of the country. As per estimates, on an average, every MW of solar energy abates around 1500 MT of CO2 every year for entire life of the project.
(c) & (d) The Government has set a target of installing 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. The Union Government has launched various schemes, as given in Annexure I to achieve this target.
(e) & (f) (i) Under Off-grid and Decentralized Solar PV Applications Programme –Phase III, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 30% of the benchmark cost of the system or the tender cost, whichever is lower, is provided for solar street lights and solar power plants in General Category States and CFA of 90% of the benchmark cost or tender cost whichever is lower is provided in North Eastern States including Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For Solar Study Lamps, CFA of 85% of the lamp cost is provided and balance 15% of the lamp cost is borne by beneficiary student.
(ii) Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM), for installation of standalone solar pumps or solarization of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps, CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar pump or solarization cost of existing pump is provided in general category. The State Governments provide a subsidy of at least 30%; and the remaining 40% is provided by the farmer of which 30% can be taken as loan. In North Eastern States including Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, CFA of 50% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar pump or solarisation cost of existing pump is provided. The State Government provides a subsidy of at least 30%; and the remaining 20% of cost is met by the farmer.
(iii) There is no scheme for distribution of solar photo-voltaic powered cookers and heaters at present.
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