Centre Offers Rs 1.9k cr For Solar Energy

NEW DELHI, February 25: The Centre has released Rs 1,931 crore till January-end this fiscal under its solar programme to encourage use of the renewable source of power, Parliament was informed today. In order to expand the use of solar energy in the country, the government has launched several schemes and released Rs 1,930.94 crore in the current fiscal till January 31, 2016, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The Centre had released Rs 568.64 crore in 2012-13, Rs 636.20 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 1,111.28 crore in 2014-15 under the solar energy programme. It has set a target of adding 100 gw of solar power by 2022, which includes 40,000 mw from rooftop solar. In a separate reply, the minister informed the House that the government is stepping up production of solar equipment under the Make in India initiative. The solar cell and module manufacturing capacity in the country stands at around 1,300 mw and 4,000 mw, respectively. Goyal told the House that the government is providing concessional Customs and excise duty exemption on raw material required for manufacturing solar energy equipment. It's also offering capital subsidy for setting up of manufacturing units for solar cells and modules. The minister, in another reply, said the ministry is working on a holistic framework to promote the use of renewable energy and its application not just in electricity but in heat and transport segments. A draft Renewable Energy Act 2015 was put up on the ministry's website for comments from stakeholders last year. The inputs received are under deliberation. Once an expert committee gives its recommendations on the same, the draft will be taken up for inter-ministerial or other stakeholder consultations before being sent for Cabinet approval, he said. Goyal also told the House that the ministry is formulating a scheme for development of solar zones and asked states to identify such zones (waste or barren land). However, the ministry has received some feedback from only Rajasthan and states will further be requested to submit their proposals after formulation of the scheme. -PTI