(a) the efforts/steps made by the Government to encourage the States for using solar energy;
(b) whether the electricity is likely to be generated with solar technique in the vast desert areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is likely to be transmitted to the rural areas at the lower expenses, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government is making any efforts in this direction, if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (I/C)
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) The Government has taken various steps to encourage the States for using solar energy in the country. These inter-alia, include the following:
(i) Announcement of a target of installing 100 GW of solar energy capacity by March, 2022;
(ii) Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2021-22;
(iii) Fiscal & financial incentives such as Capital Subsidy, Viability gap funding (VGF), accelerated depreciation benefits etc;
(iv) Permitting 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route in renewable energy sector;
(v) Issued guidelines for procurement of solar and wind power through tariff based competitive bidding process;
(vi) Waiving of Inter State Transmission System Charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned up to March, 2022;
(vii) Raising funds from bilateral and multilateral finance and development institutions;
(viii) Implementation of Green Energy Corridor project to facilitate integration of large scale renewable generation capacity addition.
(b) Yes, Madam. Six Solar Parks for generation of solar energy with the capacity of 4331 MW have been sanctioned in the vast desert areas of Rajasthan with the details as under:
S.No. Location of Solar Park Capacity (MW)
1. Bhadla Phase-II Solar Park; Jodhpur 680
2. Bhadla III Solar Park, Jodhpur
1000
3. Bhadla IV Solar Park, Jodhpur 500
4. Phalodi-Pokaran Solar Park 750
5. Fatehgarh Phase 1B Solar Park, Jaisalmer 421
6. Nokh Solar Park, Jaisalmer 980
Total 4331
(c) and (d) The Green Energy Corridor project is being implemented by State Transmission Utilities of eight renewable rich states (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu) for laying over 8500 circuit kilometres (ckm) transmission lines and substations of total capacity of approx. 19000 Mega Volt-Ampere (MVA). The project is scheduled to be commissioned by the year 2020 and is designed to evacuate approx. 20 GW renewable power upon commissioning.
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