1922 MW Installed Rooftop Solar Capacity in India: RK Singh

Installed rooftop solar capacity in India now stands at 1922 MW, and over Rs 1,874 crore has been released as CFA, RK Singh has informed the Parliament.

The total installed rooftop solar energy capacity in India now stands at 1922 megawatt (MW), and so far over Rs 1,874 crore has been released as central financial assistance (CFA) towards the installation of these capacities in the sector, Minister of New and Renewable Energy RK Singh has informed the Parliament.

The Minister, citing MNRE data said that until March 13, 2020, rooftop solar power plants of an aggregate capacity of 1,922 MW have been installed in the country, of which 346 MW have been installed in the residential sector.

He further said, “so far as on 12.03.2020, an amount of approximately Rs 1874.39 crore has been released to various implementing agencies, i.e; state nodal agencies, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), power distributing companies (Discoms), PSUs (public sector undertakings), government departments, etc. under the rooftop solar programme as CFA/ incentives inclusive of CFA towards residential sector.”

To increase the installation of residential solar rooftop systems, he said the government is taking various measures, including incentives for the Discoms for the achievement of additional capacity, assisting states in the development of online portal and aggregation of demand related to rooftop solar projects.

The government is also providing CFA of 20 percent of benchmark cost or tender cost, whichever is lower, for group housing societies/resident welfare associations for the supply of power for common facilities under the phase II of Grid Connected Rooftop (GCRT) solar programme, he said, adding there is a toll-free number — 18001803333 — for creating awareness among the public about the programme.

In February, Singh in a response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha had informed that just over 7.5 GW (7592 MW) of new renewable energy (RE) capacity had been commissioned in the financial year 19-20 up to December 2019.

“Another 34,160 MW RE capacity is under various stages of implementation. It is expected that renewable energy capacity addition in the year 2019-20 will exceed the capacity addition achieved in the year 2018-19, which was 8,532 MW,” he said while replying to the question.