Greentech Lead India: The Ministry of Renewable Energy, Government of India, has released over Rs. 300 crores over the last one year for solar lights, water pumping systems, off-grid power plants and solar water heaters.
Under the Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the government is offering a subsidy of 30 percent of the cost of solar lanterns, home lights, streets lights, solar water pumping systems and solar water heating systems.
The government will continue this subsidy during 2013-14, said Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah. The subsidy is limited to Rs. 81 per Wp for solar lighting systems, Rs. 57 per Wp for solar pumping systems and Rs. 3,000-3,300 per sq. meters of collector areas for solar water heating system in general categories States.
In special category States subsidy of 90 percent of the cost of solar street light limited to Rs. 243 per Wp is available for installation by Central and State Government Ministries, Departments and their organizations, State Nodal Agencies and Local Bodies. Under the scheme, 60 percent of the cost solar water heater limited to Rs. 6000-6600 per sq. meters of solar thermal collector areas is available.