India is endowed with large solar energy potential. About 5000 trillion kWh per year energy is incident over India’s land area with most parts receiving 4-7 kWh per sq. m. per day. The details of commissioned grid connected solar power generation capacity till date under JNNSM, State-wise, is given below:

The schemes implemented by Government of India for promoting the use of solar energy in the first and second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) are as under:

·        Off-Grid and Decentralized Solar Applications

·        Demonstration Programme on Grid Interactive Solar PV Power Generation

·        Demonstration Programme on Tail-end Grid Connected Solar PV Power Plants

·        Selection of New Grid Connected Solar Power Projects under Batch-I, Phase-I of JNNSM

·        Selection of New Grid Connected Solar Power Projects under Batch-II, Phase-I of JNNSM

·        Migration Scheme for Grid Connected Projects

·        Rooftop PV and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP)

·        Selection of New Grid Connected Solar Power Projects under Batch-I, Phase-II of JNNSM

Cabinet has approved application segment wise targets for the three phases of JNNSM. The targets under Phase-I, Phase-II and Phase-III and the achievements till date are as under:

The grid connected solar power projects under Phase-I of JNNSM have been allocated through bidding process and the bidder has to invest for setting up of the project. Under Phase-II of JNNSM, Grid Connected Projects will be allocated to bidders seeking minimum Viability Gap Funding (VGF). The process of bidding is under progress.

On the Solar PV Off-Grid Applications, the Ministry receives proposals regularly from various States/UTs for installation of systems like, solar home lights, solar street lights, solar lanterns, solar pumps and solar power plants having capacity up to 100 kWp.

Currently, there is no general scheme for subsidy for grid solar power programme. However, a scheme for tail-end grid solar power plants with limited coverage launched during 11^th plan period had provision for 50 % capital subsidy on the installed cost of the plant. The central financial assistance disbursed under that scheme, state-wise and year-wise is at Annexure-D. Some other schemes, again with limited capacities like bundling of solar & thermal power or VGF have provided incentives to the developers in different ways.

Under Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Applications Scheme of JNNSM, the Ministry provides capital subsidy of 30 % ranging from Rs. 30/- to Rs.135/- per Wp capacity solar PV systems/power plants depending upon their configurations and capacities to various categories of the beneficiaries. In special category States and North East the subsidy is 90% ranging from Rs. 90/- to 405/- per wp. However, 90% subsidy will be available to Government Institutions like schools, colleges, hospitals, panchayat ghar, police stations etc.

The Government has specified the minimum technical standards for the solar panels to be used in the solar power programme of MNRE. There is no proposal to grade the solar panel equipment available in the market by developing any system other than the accepted standards.

This information was given by the Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. 

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