Cabinet Okays Continuation of Off-grid, Decentralised Solar PV Applications Programme

The total project of the 3 components included under the phase-III is Rs 1,895 crore of which Rs 637 crore will be provided as central financial assistance.

The government has provided its consent for implementing phase-III of off-grid and decentralized solar PV application programme to achieve additional 118 MWp (Mega Watt peak) off-grid solar PV capacity by 2020.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for implementation of off-grid and decentralised solar PV (photovoltaic) application programme phase-III.

Under this programme, 3 lakh solar street lights will be installed across the country with special emphasis on areas where there is no facility for street lighting systems through grid power, North Eastern states and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts.

Moreover, the solar power plants of individual size up to 25 kWp (kilo Watt peak) will be promoted in areas where grid power has not reached or is not reliable, aiming to provide electricity to schools, hostels, panchayats, police stations and other public service institutions. The aggregated capacity of solar power plants would be 100 MWp.

Besides, 25 lakh solar study lamps will be provided in North Eastern states and LWE affected districts.

The CCEA said in a statement that, for solar street lights and solar power plants, financial support up to 30 percent of the benchmark cost of the system will be provided except for NE states, hill states and Island UTs where up to 90 percent of the benchmark cost will be provided.

Also, for solar study lamps only 15 percent of the lamp cost to be borne by beneficiary student and balance will be provided as financial support as such systems will be provided to school going children in backward and remote areas.

The total project of the 3 components included under the phase-III is Rs 1,895 crore of which Rs 637 crore will be provided as central financial assistance.

It is estimated that, besides increasing self-employment, the implementation of Phase-III is likely to generate employment opportunity equivalent to 8.67 lakh man-days for skilled and unskilled workers.