Question : GENERATION OF SOLAR ENERGY

(a) the details of total solar power production in the country and the number of solar power units operating at present, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether several solar energy projects are not functioning properly, if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government provides any tax concession on solar projects, or proposes to incentivize solar power production at household level and use of solar power by farmers for irrigation purpose, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is developing any new technology to provide solar energy at affordable price, if so, the details thereof;

(e) the incentives presently provided for electricity production by using solar energy; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to provide further subsidies for electricity production by using solar energy and if so, the details thereof and the other steps proposed to be taken to increase electricity production by using solar energy?

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

(a): As on 30.06.2014, an aggregate capacity of about 2,685 MW grid-connected solar power generation plants has been established in the country under various schemes of Central and State Governments. Out of these, 163 nos. solar power plants with aggregate capacity of 684 MW have been set up under Central schemes and all are reported to be operational. State-wise details thereof are furnished at Annexure-I. The operational status of the plants set up outside Central schemes has not been assessed by the Ministry.

(b): The projects are generally functioning properly except for routine problems.

(c): Benefit of 80% depreciation can be availed by developers of solar power generation plants. The Ministry is already incentivizing installation of solar power production systems at household level and solar powered irrigation pumps for farmers by providing capital subsidy of 30% of systems cost limited to certain benchmarks. Details thereof are furnished in Annexure-II.

(d): Research & Development in the field of solar energy is being encouraged under the National Solar Mission to develop new cost-efficient solar technologies. The Government has also set up five Centers of Excellence to foster research and development in solar energy technologies.

(e): Apart from the incentives detailed in Annexure-II, fiscal and financial incentives in the form of accelerated depreciation, concessional/ nil customs and excise duties, preferential tariffs and generation based incentives are being provided for electricity production by using solar energy.

(f): The Government proposes to introduce a scheme for setting up 1500 MW grid-connected Solar PV power projects under National Solar Mission Phase-II Batch-II through mechanism of bundling with unallocated thermal power and tariff based reverse bidding process. Draft Guidelines thereof have been placed on MNRE website on 16-7-2014 for stakeholder inputs.