Question : SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS

(a) the subsidy granted for solar energy projects to the States including Orissa during the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether the brakes have been put on Solar Energy Projects due to lack of sufficient funds; (

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has put a cap on the number of solar energy projects and a maximum capacity which can avail of subsidy;

(e) if so, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the cap discourages large efficient solar energy projects like solar thermal power projects from being set up in the country; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a): During 2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9 and current financial year upto 31.10.2009, an amount of about Rs. 290.16 crores was released to various States including Rs. 78.68 lakhs to the State agency of Orissa by the Ministry as central financial assistance (CFA) under the Solar Energy Programme.

(b): No, Madam.

(c): Does not arise

(d),(e),(f)&(g): The Ministry has announced a demonstration programme to support megawatt size grid interactive solar power projects for a total capacity of 50 MW in the country, based on both solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies. Proposals from any project developer with a maximum aggregated capacity of 5 MW, either through a single project or multiple projects of a minimum capacity of 1 MW each are eligible for consideration. In a State, a maximum of 10 MW capacity solar power projects could be considered. So far, one solar thermal power project of 1 MW capacity based on Linear Fresnel Reflectors (LFR) and two projects of 5 MW capacity each based on Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTC) have been found eligible for generation based incentive (GBI) under the demonstration programme of the Ministry.