Question : SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION

(a) whether the Union Government has prepared for augmentation of solar power generation capacity in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government has decided to involve the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to convert power consumption of all major cricket stadiums across the country from conve- ntional to solar energy;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Union Government to encourage big industrial houses to generate power from the solar energy and other non-conventional resources?

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

(a)&(b): Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has a target for installation of 20,000 MWp solar power generation capacity in the country by the year 2022. This target is proposed to be revised to 100,000 MWp.

(c)&(d): Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a ‘Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme’ that encourages the installation of solar rooftop systems in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sectors including major cricket stadiums across the country.

(e): The Ministry has been persuading the industrial houses from time to time to generate renewable power through writing letters and motivating in various seminars and conferences. In the recent Global Inves- tment Meet – RE-INVEST organized during 15th – 17th February 2015 at New Delhi, many industrial houses have given their commitment to generate renewable power.

The other major steps taken by the Government to promote the power from the solar energy and other non-conventional resources are:

(i) Provision of Concessional Import duty/Excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power plants, accelerated depreciation and tax holiday.

(ii) Generation based incentive, viability gap funding and facility for bundled power for Grid Connected Solar Power Projects through various interventions announced from time to time.

(iii) Subsidy on biomass power, small hydro power and off-grid solar applications.

(iv) Provision for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for solar and other non-conventional energy sources in the National Tariff Policy.

(v) Promotion of renewable energy resources for power generation through awareness programmes, publicity through electronic and print media, capacity building, exhibitions, training work- shops etc.