Question : Achievements in New and Renewable Energy Sector

(a) the initiatives taken by the Government to explore new and renewable energy sources and the outcome thereof during the last three years in the country;
(b) the action taken plan for the generation of new and renewable energy sources during the next two years in the country;
(c) the targets fixed and achievements made in the generation of electricity through renewable sources of energy during each of the last three years and the current year, State and source-wise;
(d) whether the schemes/programmes being implemented in different States to develop renewable sources of energy have been successful and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
(e) the details of incentives being provided to State Governments by the Union Government for implementation of these schemes; and
(f) whether the Union Government has set up any monitoring mechanism to ensure proper implementation of these schemes and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): The details of new initiatives undertaken by the Government to explore new and renewable energy sources in the country include:
? incentives in the form of generation based incentives/subsidies, fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, goods and service tax (GST) at low rates, concessional custom duty, income tax holiday for 10 years and viability gap funding;
? amendments in the Tariff Policy for strong enforcement of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and for providing Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO);
? setting up of exclusive solar parks;
? development of power transmission network through Green Energy Corridor project;
? repowering policy in order to optimally utilize the wind energy resources;
? identification of large government complexes/ buildings for rooftop projects;
? infrastructure status for solar projects;
? raising tax free solar bonds;
? making roof top solar a part of housing loan by banks;
? raising funds from bilateral and multilateral finance and development institutions;
? training of Surya Mitras for installation and maintenance of the Solar Projects;
? mechanism for scheduling and forecasting in case of inter-state transmission of solar and wind power;
? approval & notification of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy for the development of offshore wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A total of 22.3 GW of cumulative capacity has been added during last three years in the country from all renewable energy sources.

(b): Schemes of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are being implemented with the objective to achieve 175 GW of Renewable Energy capacity by 2022 as per scheme-wise annual budgetary allocations.


(c): State-wise targets for the generation of electricity from renewables are not fixed. Source-wise, year-wise and state-wise generation of electricity from renewable energy sources during the last three years and current year are given at Annexure-I.

(d): Statement showing cumulative achievements reflecting the implementation of various grid operative schemes in different states is given in Annexure-II. However, some of the challenges in the implementation of these programmes in states/UTs, inter-alia, include servicing and maintenance of renewable energy systems in remote areas; delay in submission of Utilization Certificates of grants released earlier; non-compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO); and non-revision of tariffs regularly as per CERC guidelines, etc.

(e): The Government is providing various incentives for the development of grid connected renewable energy projects in the States/ UTs of the country. These include incentives in the form of generation based incentives/subsidies, fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, goods and service tax (GST) at low rates, concessional custom duty, income tax holiday for 10 years and viability gap funding.

(f): All the major programmes being promoted by MNRE have an established mechanism to monitor the implementation of the schemes. The provision include:
? 100 percent physical verification by State implementing agency.
? Project developers to provide generation data on regular basis.
? Periodic inspection by the officials of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
? Third party evaluation.


*******