Question : Role to Spiritual Leaders for Enhancing Solar Power

(a) whether the Government is roping in religious and interfaith gurus to demonstrate the virtues of green energy and set an example by ensuring that these ashrams are solar powered and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the gurus will act as spiritual partners of international solar alliance and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has set an ambitious target of creating 175 GW of solar energy capacity by 2022, including 40,000 MW rooftop solar power capacity as part of the strategy to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b): Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing a scheme “Special Area Demonstration Project (SADP)” to create publicity of the renewable energy technologies, systems and also to disseminate information on technological developments and promotional activities for the establishments with high visibility including religious places. Projects have been sanctioned to religious places under the scheme. Also, under the scheme of Solar Roof-top systems, projects are installed in such places.
It has been reported that alliance of Inter-faith leaders has supported International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative.

(c): Yes, Madam. The Government of India has set a target of 175 GW renewable power installed capacity by the end of 2022. This includes 100 GW from solar power, 60 GW from wind power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power. A total target of 100 GW has been kept for solar power generation by 2022 through installation of 60,000 MW ground mounted projects and 40,000 MW rooftop solar projects.
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