Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has released a list of 28 projects that form the first batch of projects sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
The projects with a total capacity of 505 megawatts are to come up in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
And the total viability gap funding (VGF) to be disbursed through the financial year 2015–16 has been recorded as Rs433.05 crore, which is 50 percent of the total VGF eligibility of Rs866.10 crore.
In another development, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced the allocation of subsidy of Rs4750 crore for a scheme covering unemployed youth or farmers.
MNRE Secretary Upendra Tripathy has stated in a letter to the states that they may develop microgrid projects to supply power to small habitations and transfer any excess power to the grid.
Unemployed youth and farmers (and women) could be given priority and support to set up solar projects to supply these substations. Also, distribution companies should be made to purchase power from the identified substations based on Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) Feed-in tariff.
In addition to the subsidy announcement, the ministry has also extended of the continuation of a programme for research, design and development of solar photovoltaic technology and solar thermal technology.
It would be implemented during the current fiscal year within budget outlay of Rs33.9 crore.
Besides the budget outlay, Rs 0.10 crore has also been allocated in the current year’s budget for other administrative expenses on solar research and development. These provisions are meant for research and development in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, the MNRE secretary has stated in a letter.
Ajith Kumar S
editor@greentechlead.com