Question : Harnessing Renewable Energy in Western and Southern States

(a) the details of estimated potential available for harnessing renewable energy in Western and Southern States;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed/assessed the great potential of solar, hydro and wind energy in Western and Southern India and if so, the details along with the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Government has failed to utilize the full potential of renewable energy in these States;
(d) if so, the problem faced by the Government in this regard and the steps taken to overcome it;
(e) whether the Government has sanctioned setting up of solar parks in different parts of Western and Southern States, if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated and spent for the said purpose;
(f) whether the Government has also proposed to set up hydro power plants in Western and Southern States, if so, places identified for the purpose and the time by which the same will be set up; and
(g) the other steps taken by the Government for utilising the solar energy with special focus on Western and Southern States?

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

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (d) The details of estimated renewable energy potential identified for various renewable energy sources in the country including western & southern states are given at Annexure I.

The details of installed renewable energy capacity in the country including western & southern India as on 31st October, 2019 are given at Annexure-II.

The production of energy from solar, wind and other renewable sources varies from place to place depending upon, inter-alia, intensity of solar radiations, speed of wind, geographical location, capacity of project, technology deployed, etc.

The issues faced by the Government in this regard inter-alia, include availability of land, transmission infrastructure, low cost finance, conducive state policies etc.

(e) The details of the Solar Parks sanctioned in the different parts of the country including Western and Southern States of the country as on 30th November, 2019 are given in Annexure-III.
The details of the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) released to various states including Western and Southern States for setting up of solar parks in the country as on 31st October, 2019 are given in Annexure-IV.

(f) The details of Small hydro & Large hydro power projects under implementation in the Western and Southern States as on 31st October, 2019 are given in Annexure V.

(g) The steps taken by the Government for utlising solar energy in the country including Western and Southern States inter-alia, include the following:-
• Announcement of a target of installing 100 GW of solar energy capacity by the year, 2022;
• Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route.
• Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar power for projects to be commissioned up to December, 2022.
• Notification of standard bidding guidelines to enable distribution licensee to procure solar power at competitive rates in cost effective manner.
• Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022.
• Implementation of Green Energy Corridor project to facilitate grid integration of large scale renewable energy capacity addition.
• Launching of New Schemes, such as, PM-KUSUM, solar rooftop phase II, 12000 MW CPSU scheme Phase II.

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