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INDIAN GOVT PLANNING CHANGES IN SOLAR POWER SCHEMES

01.01.70

The Indian government is planning changes in its solar power schemes to promote creation of mini-grids, a senior government official said last week.

"Mini-grids will play a major role in the 12th Five Year Plan to achieve our solar power targets. We are in the process of brining out certain changes in the schemes for encouraging mini-grids," Joint Secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Tarun Kapoor told reporters on the sidelines of an Inter Solar Summit here.

The government has set itself a target of 20,000 MW of installed capacity of solar power by 2020.

"We are also looking at making changes in the rooftop solar photovoltaics schemes so that more and more such projects come up in the country which will contribute to the mini-grid programme of the government," he said.

The MNRE provides financial support to the extent of 30 per cent subsidy for rooftop panel installations.

"Generally, the cost of generation from solar energy is around Rs 9 per unit. However, if rooftop model is adopted, the cost will reduce by flat 30 per cent which is more economical for the sector players. We want more and more companies to come forward to manufacture and supply equipments for this model," Kapoor said, adding, "government can come up with schemes but industry has to give the products.

Source: ElectroIQ