GRID-CONNECTED ROOFTOP AND SMALL SOLAR POWER PLANTS PROGRAMME: PHASE-I

• Earlier, Ministry has been implementing Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme which is providing subsidy upto 30% of benchmark cost for the general category states and upto 70 % of benchmark cost for special category states, i.e. North Eastern States including Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands for installation of grid connected rooftop solar power plants in building of residential, institutional and social sector for the sanctioned projects under phase-I. For Government sector achievement linked incentives upto 25% of the benchmark cost in general category States/UTs and 60 % of the benchmark cost for special category States/UTs has been provided for the sanctioned projects under phase-I.
• About 2098 MW solar rooftop systems have been sanctioned/approved under the scheme. Aggregate 1889.30 MW have been reported as installed in the country. Projected capacity to be commissioned – 3000 MW by 31st March 2020.
• Model Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Memorandum of Understanding and CAPEX Agreement for government sector projects have been developed which were duly vetted by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice.
• Solar Rooftop Calculator has also been developed for financial calculations of grid connected solar rooftop projects on PAN India basis. SPIN (http://solarrooftop.gov.in) is an e-governance initiative of the Ministry. It is an online system designed to monitor almost all activities involved in Solar Rooftop programme. Online portal of 24 States has been developed by various state agencies out of which 10 nos. of portals have been integrated with spin portal.

• The State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL) has been developed. It is an index to assess and evaluate various States for their preparedness to support rooftop solar deployment. It also ranks States based on parameters that are critical for establishing strong solar rooftop markets.
• MNRE developed a panel of expert PSUs to facilitate Ministries/State Governments in bidding process. Ministry/ State Government may also choose to implement RTS projects through their own PSUs/   other notified designated agencies in the scheme such as State Nodal Agencies, DISCOM, Government departments and their own PSUs. These PSUs are expected to survey potential, submit brief feasibility report, collate RTS projects of various Departments, undertake bidding in model chosen by Department and facilitate signing of agreement between selected developer and the Department. The 3% service/ Project Management Consultancy (PMC) charges for such PSUs/designated agencies are being provided by MNRE. Rs.1832.94 crore has been released as Central Financial Assistance to different implementing agencies for installation of grid connected rooftop projects of which Rs.254.95 crore has been released in FY 2019-20 up to 31/12/2019.

Source :MNRE Annual report