Question : Solar Energy Plants

(a) whether solar energy plants have been/being set up with foreign investment in the country including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the investment made by the foreign companies for the purpose, country-wise;
(c) the number of solar energy plants set up and functional with the help of foreign investment and cost of setting up of the same and the units of solar energy generated therefrom;
(d) whether the Government proposes to allow firms to bid tariffs in dollar to encourage foreign investment and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government extends any incentives to boost foreign direct investment in solar energy sector;
(f) if so, the details thereof; and
(g) the other steps taken by the Government for encouraging solar power generation in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a)&(b) The Government have allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Renewable energy sector including solar power industry through automatic route in the country including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has reported FDI equity inflow of USD 8,693.06 million in non-conventional energy sector from April,2000 to September,2019. The country-wise details are given in Annexure-I.
(c) The details of state wise solar energy capacity installed in the country are given in Annexure-II. These projects have generated 34.79 BU of electricity in current year so far. However, details of solar energy plants set up with foreign investment alone are not available.
(d) The Government is not planning to allow firms to bid tariffs in dollar.
(e)&(f) The Government has allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Renewable energy sector including solar power industry through automatic route.
(g) The Government has taken following steps to encourage solar power generation in the country:
(i) Announcement of a target of installing 100 GW of solar energy capacity by December, 2022.
(ii) Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned up to December, 2022.
(iii) Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route.
(iv) Notification of standard bidding guidelines to enable distribution licensee to procure solar and wind power at competitive rates in cost effective and transparent manner.
(v) Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to year 2022.
(vi) Implementation of Green Energy Corridors/project to facilitate grid interaction of large scale renewable energy capacity addition.
(vii) Notification of quality standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic system/devices.
(viii) Launch of various new schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), 12000 MW CPSU Scheme (Phase II) and Solar Rooftop (Phase II) program.

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