Ministry of New and Renewable Energy implements Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II

23 Mar 2022 , 01:39 PM

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II for which the guidelines were issued in August 2019. Under this Programme 4000 MW rooftop solar (RTS) capacity addition is targeted in residential sector through Central Financial Assistance (CFA).

CFA up to 40% of the benchmark cost is provided for RTS projects up to 3 kW capacity and up to 20% for RTS system capacity beyond 3 kW and up to 10 kW for individual households. For Group Housing Societies/Residential Welfare Associations (GHS/RWA), CFA is limited to 20% for RTS plants for supply of power to common facilities maximum 500 kW capacity.

In addition, incentives up to 10% of the cost of rooftop solar are provided to Distribution Utilities depending upon achievements in capacity addition above baseline.

The Programme is demand-driven and capacities are allocated based on demand received from Distribution Utilities and other state implementing agencies. Ministry has so far allocated 3162 MW of capacity for the residential sector. Against the allocated capacity of 3162 MW, a total 1252 MW capacity has been reported installed as on 28.02.2022. The State-wise details of capacity allocated and installed is give as Annexure.

This information was given by Shri R.K Singh, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

Grid connectivity for rooftop solar projects including net-metering is provided by distribution utilities as per regulations notified by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission/Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions. These regulations are notified by regulatory commissions after stakeholder consultation and are amended from time to time.

The Ministry regularly reviews the progress of implementation of the programme including the net-metering problems with distribution utilities and advises corrective steps to resolve the same.

MNRE has also issued a notification for simplification of the Rooftop Solar programme which inter alia includes online application for net- metering approval.