Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II: What is in For You?
As a part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), India has committed to increasing the share of installed capacity of electric power from natural sources to 40% by 2030 and solar energy is one of the main sources to achieve the target. Government of India has set the target of achieving 100 GW of solar power capacity in the country by the year 2022 of which 40 GW to be achieved from rooftop solar (RTS).
Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II
In the year 2019, the Government approved Phase-II of the “Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme‟ for achieving a total capacity of 40 GW RTS plants by 2022. In Phase-II, it has been decided to implement the program by making the DISCOMs and its local offices the nodal points for implementation of the RTS program. DISCOMs will play a key role in the expansion of RTS as DISCOMs are having direct contact with the end-user and they provide approval for installation, manage the distribution network and also have a billing interface with the rooftop owner.
The key objectives of the programme are:
➺To promote grid connected RTS in all consumer segments, viz., residential, institutional, social, Govt., commercial, industrial etc.
➺ To bring DISCOMs at forefront as key drivers for rapid deployment of RTS.
➺ To create awareness, capacity building, human resource development, etc.
➺ To promote sustainable business models.
➺ To create additional RTS capacity of 38000 MW in the country by 31.12.2022 out of which a capacity of 4000 MW in residential sector with Central Financial Assistance and 34000 MW in other sectors (i.e., Social, Government, educational, PSUs, etc.) by suitably incentivizing DISCOMs
➺ To promote domestic manufacturing of solar cells and module
The program will be implemented through DISCOMs. This will lead to ease of access for the consumers. The program provides for Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for the household owner and Group Housing Societies to set up RTS on the rooftop of their residence/residential campus. Under this scheme the Ministry is providing a 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW and 20% subsidy beyond 3 kW and up to 10 kW of solar panel capacity.
Sustainable Partnership for Rooftop Solar Acceleration in Bharat (SUPRABHA) is a technical assistance programme of the World Bank through SBI. It works with 17 Partner States allocated by MNRE, towards establishing and enabling an ecosystem for accelerated deployment of grid connected Rooftop Solar in the country. SUPRABHA TA program will continue to engage with the key stakeholders of the partner states, handhold them to mitigate the current challenges and enable them to accelerate RTS implementation.
