Rajasthan: Solar policy high on charging stations, making equipment
Jaipur: In a bid to revitalize the renewable energy sector, the state government has brought in several innovative features in the ‘Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy-2019 and ‘Rajasthan Wind and Hybrid Energy Policy-2019’, announced on Thursday by chief minister Ashok Gehlot.
For the first time in the country, Rajasthan government has made adoption of electric vehicles part of policy priority. It will provide land at 50% concessional rate of DLC for first 500 renewable energy-based EV charging stations. These projects will get 100% exemption in normal transmission and wheeling charges for a period of 10 years and 100% electricity duty waiver for 7 years.
Similarly, the solar policy aims to develop 33 district headquarters as ‘Green Energy Cities’ in next five year by installing 300 MW of solar rooftop systems. Rooftop projects don’t need new infrastructure like off-grid projects and a senior official of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) said the target is very much realistic.
“This policy has number of innovative ideas which will attract all stakeholders in the renewable sector. On the very first day we have started receiving queries for making big investments in Rajasthan. The scope of the policy is very comprehensive and covers various segments to have maximum realization of the target,” said Ajitabh Sharma, chairman, RRECL.
In fact, the chief minister on Thursday said that Reliance has showed interest to put up 200 MW capacity solar plant.
One of the long standing demand of the industry was to reduce wheeling and transmission charges on solar which has been reduced to 50% for a number of category of generators. For projects with storage systems, the charges are even lower at 25% or the normal charge. The policy has also focused on manufacturing of solar energy equipment which is mostly imported today. Benefits of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) policy to eligible manufacturers, while land will be allotted at 50% concessional rate. The manufacturing projects will 100% stamp duty exemption, and electricity duty waiver for 10 years. Investment subsidy on SGST to solar energy equipment manufacturers will be at 90% and deposited for 7 years.
Sunil Bansal, general secretary, Rajasthan Solar Association, said, “New solar policy has clear message that MSME has important role in development of solar in Rajasthan. 4,000 MW of small solar projects will be setup in Rajasthan in next 5 years which will be a great boost to entrepreneurship skills of Rajasthan. Rajasthan should fulfil their RPO only by small solar projects.
The policy aims to achieve a target of 30,000 MW solar power projects by 2024-25 in the state with segments like grid connectivity, decentalised, rooftop and solar pumps accounting for 24000 MW, 4000 MW, 1000 MW, and 1000 MW, respectively. The state will promote setting up of grid connected rooftop PV solar power plants under net metering arrangement. The discoms will allow rooftop capacity addition up to 50% of the capacity of the distribution transformer of the area.
Source: Economic Times