Question : Promotion of New and Renewable Energy

(a) whether the Government has initiated any special schemes to promote
new and renewable energy during the last three years, if so, the details
thereof;

( b) whether the Government has decided to generate 40 percent of the total
energy requirement of the country from the renewable sources, if so, the
details thereof;

( c) whether the Government has formulated any modalities to achieve this,
if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the investment cost for solar energy is being reduced as
compared to previous years and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): The Government has initiated various schemes and programmes for the promotion of new & renewable energy in the country. Brief details of the major schemes/programmes implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the promotion of renewable energy during last three years are given in the Annexure.
(b): The Government of India, in its submission to the United Nations Frame Work Convention on Climate Change on Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) has stated that India will achieve 40% cumulative installed Electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 for which it is essential that the developments transfer technology and provide low cost long tenor financing.

(c): The Government has up-scaled the target of renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by the year 2022 which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro-power. Besides the ongoing policies and programmes of the Government in RE sector, several policy measures initiated recently by the Government to achieve this up-scaled target, inter-alia, include suitable amendments to the Electricity Act and Tariff Policy for strong enforcement of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and for providing Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO); setting up of exclusive solar parks; development of power transmission network through Green Energy Corridor project; identification of large government complexes/ buildings for rooftop projects; provision of roof top solar and 10 percent renewable energy as mandatory under Mission Statement and Guidelines for development of smart cities; amendments in building bye-laws for mandatory provision of roof top solar for new construction or higher FAR; infrastructure status for solar projects; raising tax free bonds; providing long tenor loans; making roof top solar a part of housing loan by banks/ NHB; incorporating measures in Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for encouraging distribution companies and making net-metering compulsory and raising funds from bilateral and international donors as also the Green Climate Fund to achieve the target.

(d): The Solar tariff has significantly been reduced as compared to previous years, which also reflects the reduction in investment cost for the Solar Energy.