Schemes for encouraging the use of solar energy by households

Posted On - 15 December, 2023 • By - King Stubb & Kasiva

In the month of January, 2010; the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Power launched the National Solar Mission or NSM in order to promote the research and development in the field of solar energy at the household and domestic level in order to reduce the reliance upon the non – renewable and polluting sources of energy.

There are numerous schemes that were launched by the Ministry which are as follows:

  • For setting up intra – state transmission system, the Green Energy Corridor Scheme was launched by the Government in the year 2015.
  • The “National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules” scheme was launched as a production linked incentive scheme in the year 2021.
  • PM – KUSUM or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan is a flagship scheme which was launched by the Union Government in 2019 in order to promote the adoption of solar energy in the agricultural sector. The main objective of this scheme is de – dieselization of the agricultural sector and promotion of green and clean sources of fuels.
  • Schemes for installation of Solar Rooftop Power Plants connected through grids.
  • Schemes by the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for setting up 12,000 MW of Grid – Connected Solar PV Power Projects by the government producers.
  • Solar Park Scheme which aims to set up a minimum of 50 solar parks targeting 40,000 MW of solar power projects.

As per the state – wise details of solar capacity installed in the country as of 31.10.2023,[1] Rajasthan has the highest cumulative capacity for solar power plants which is a total of 17055.70 MW of energy. Moreover, Phase – II of the Roof Top Solar (RTS) Programme is also under implementation by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy since 2019 under which financial assistance by the Central Government is also provided for residential households and group housing societies or welfare organizations for solar power projects up to 3kW capacity. Presently, the ministry has also fixed a limit of 3kW for residential households which shall be priced at Rs. 14,588/- per kW and at Rs. 7,294/- per kW for projects between 3 – 10 kWs.

To provide a boost to the reliance of various stakeholders on solar power, the government has also launched the National Portal for Rooftop Solar Power to simplify the process of applying for solar subsidy and to ensure that the system of direct – bank transfer functions efficiently.

The positive and enabling schemes launched by the Indian government are a way forward towards achieving a reduced carbon footprint of the country along with combating the reliance upon fossil fuels and polluting sources of energy which not only increases the cost of production or domestic expenses but also is less sustainable. The promotion of solar power would also lead to achieving self – reliance at the domestic level and promote sustainability for the future.

[1] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1983208