RAJYA SABHA
SOLAR POWER PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY
Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that lower tariffs have affected the quality of solar power projects and, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of steps taken by Government to monitor and ensure that solar projects are viable in the
long term and in compliance with quality norms;
(c) the details of steps taken by Government to ensure seamless land allotment for solar projects; and
(d) the details of steps taken by Government to create power evacuation and transmission infrastructure for solar power?
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has not received any complaints suggesting that lower tariffs have affected the quality of solar power projects.
(b) To ensure the viability and quality of solar projects, following measures have been put in place by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy:
(i) Stipulating a Financial Criteria for Solar Power developers: The „Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for Procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV Power Projects‟ specify financial criteria as part of the qualification requirement.
(ii) Mandatory registration with Bureau of India Standards (BIS): On 05.09.2017, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified Solar Photovoltaics Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order 2017, under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, for quality assurance in solar PV Power Projects. It covers Solar PV modules, inverters and battery storage for solar PV applications.
(iii) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar PV modules: In order to address the issue of reliability of producer of solar PV cells & modules, MNRE has issued an order “Approved Models & Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019” and “Guidelines for enlistment under Approved Models & Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019”. These orders provide for enlistment of models and manufacturers of solar PV cells & modules, after due inspection of manufacturing facilities.
(c) The Government is implementing a scheme for the Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects for setting up solar parks of 40,000 MW capacity in the country. Solar Parks are meant to provide developed infrastructure, including land, to facilitate the installation of solar power projects in a plug and play model. Central Financial Assistance of upto Rs. 25 lakh for preparation of Detailed Project Report and Rs. 20 lakh per MW for development of the solar park is provided under the scheme. As on 28-02-2021, 43 Solar parks of cumulative capacity of 28201 MW have been sanctioned in 15 States.
(d) In order to facilitate evacuation of large scale renewable energy (RE), Government is implementing the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) scheme to help in the development of :
(i) Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS); and
(ii) Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) in eight RE rich States (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu).