Question : Subsidy on Roof Top Solar Panels

(a) whether the Government has made any assessment of the potential of solar roof top projects and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken to exploit the same;

(b) whether the Government has proposed to reduce the subsidy on roof top solar power panels to 15% from the present level of 30% due to decline in the price of solar panels and limited availability of funds, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of families who have been provided subsidy for installing such plants in various States including Karnataka, State-wise; and

(d) the life span of such roof top solar panels and their batteries?

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

(a): National Institute of Solar Energy has estimated a potential for installation of about 42.8 GWp solar roof top projects in the country. Under ‘Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme’ of the Ministry, 360 MWp projects have been sanctioned and 54.187 MWp aggregate capacity of projects have been installed.The following steps are being taken by the Government to exploit the potential:

? Target set for installation of 40 GWp by year 2022.
? 15% Government subsidy for non-commercial and non-industrial categories for using domestic solar panels
? Accelerated depreciation benefits for industrial and commercial buildings
? Custom duty concessions and excise duty exemptions
? 10 years tax holiday
? Loans available under Priority Sector Lending uptoRs. 10 lakhs for individuals
? Provision of bank loans as a part of home loan/ home improvement loan
? Loans for system aggregators from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) at concessional interest rate (9.9% to 10.75% per annum)
Electricity Regulatory Commissions of 19 States/UTs have notified regulations for grid connectivity, net-metering/ feed-in-tariff mechanism.

(b): The subsidy now admissible for new sanctions of grid connected solar roof top systems is 15%. For off-grid solar systems subsidy is 30%.
(c): Ministry has provided subsidy for 11,26,921 solar home lighting systems, 1,08,074 kWp solar power plants in residential and institutional sectors. Further, aggregate 54187 kWp grid connected solar rooftop systems have also been commissioned. State-wise details are given in Annexure.

(d): The typical life of grid connected solar roof top plants is 25 years and these systems are without battery back-up. Battery life depends on the type of battery used, maintenance, ambient temp etc.

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