Question : Rooftop Solar Power

(a) whether the Union Government has urged the State Governments to set up roof top solar units on residential and commercial buildings and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has identified States with high potential of solar power and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to give special incentives for promoting installation of roof top panels, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the funds allocated and utilised for the purpose during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL & NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a),(b),(c)&(d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a),(b),(c) & (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 161 to be answered on 10/12/2015 regarding ‘Rooftop Solar Power’

(a): Yes Madam. The Government has requested State Governments to set up solar rooftop systems in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors in the country from time to time through letters. State-wise targets for installation of solar rooftop systems with aggregate capacity of 40,000 MWp to be achieved by the year 2022 are given in Annexure-I.

(b): National Institute of Solar Energy, an autonomous institution of the Ministry has estimated potential of about 750 Gigawatt (GWp) of solar power including rooftops, in the country. The State-wise estimated solar power potential is given in Annexure-II.

(c): Yes Madam. There is a provision for Central Financial Assistance of 30% of the benchmark cost for general category States/UTs, 70% for special category States/UTs, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. In addition the following incentives are also available for installation of solar rooftop systems:

• Fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, concessional custom duty, excise duty exemptions and income tax holiday for 10 years
• Loans for system aggregators from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) at concessional interest rate (9.9% to 10.75% per annum)
• Under Priority Sector Lending, loans are available upto Rs. 10 lakhs for individuals and upto Rs. 15 crore for renewable energy projects
• Bank loans as a part of home loan/ home improvement loan for solar rooftop systems
(d): The State/UT wise details of funds allocated and released during last three years and the current year for grid connected solar rooftops is given in Annexure-III.

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