Solar Power To Feed 7,000 Railway Stations: Arun Jaitely

By Saur News Bureau/ Updated On Wed, Feb 1st, 2017

Indian Railway

“It is proposed to feed about 7,000 stations with solar power in the medium term. A beginning has already been made in 300 stations. Works will be taken up for 2,000 railway stations as part of 1000 MW solar mission”

Finance Minister, Arun Jaitely presenting Union Budget 2017 announced that 7000 railways stations in the country will be fed through solar power in the medium term and work as already started in that respect in 300 stations.

The minister also said in solar energy, we now propose to take up the second phase of Solar Park development for additional 20,000 MW capacity.

Indian Railways earlier said that it has finalized a policy to harness solar energy on rooftops of its premises. As per the policy the solar plants would be installed on rooftop through developers with long term PPA by railway.

Overview of Budget 2017 for renewable energy industry-

Reduction in Customs duty on inputs and raw materials to reduce costs: –

Renewable Energy	Rate of Duty
	From	To
All items of machinery required for fuel cell based power generating systems to be set up in the country or for demonstration purposes, subject to certain specified conditions	BCD – 10% /7.5% CVD – 12.5%	BCD – 5% CVD – 6%
All items of machinery required for balance of systems operating on biogas/ bio-methane/ by-product hydrogen, subject to certain specified conditions	BCD – 10% /7.5% CVD – 12.5%	BCD – 5% CVD – 6%

Changes in Customs and Excise / CV duty to address the problem of duty inversions in Renewable Energy sectors: –

Renewable Energy	Rate of Duty
	From	To
Solar tempered glass for use in the manufacture of solar cells/panels/modules	BCD – 5%	BCD – Nil
Parts/raw materials for use in the manufacture of solar tempered glass for use in solar photovoltaic cells/modules, solar power generating equipment or systems, flat plate solar collector, solar photovoltaic module and panel for water pumping and other applications, subject to actual user condition.	CVD – 12.5%	CVD – 6%

Commodity

Rate of Duty

From

Resin and catalyst for use in the manufacture of cast components for Wind Operated Energy Generators [WOEG], subject to actual user condition

BCD – 7.5%

CVD – 12.5% SAD – 4%

BCD – 5%

CVD – Nil

SAD – Nil

Incentivizing domestic value addition, ‘Make in India

Renewable Energy	Rate of Duty
	From	To
All items of machinery required for balance of systems operating on biogas/ bio- methane/ by-product hydrogen	12.5%	6%