Rooftop Solar System in Power Stations

            Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has mandated for harnessing of solar energy on the roof of all buildings of new thermal power projects. Accordingly, NTPC is including rooftop solar plants in all its thermal power plant buildings in upcoming NTPC power projects. These shall be installed as and when the buildings are constructed as per the project execution schedule. This was stated by Shri. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.  

Further, year-wise targets for next three years shall be fixed by NTPC after estimating potential of rooftop solar Photo Voltaic systems at its existing thermal power station buildings and after carrying out the detailed feasibility, location-wise, the Minister added.

            The Minister further stated that so far 2970 MW grid connected Solar Power Projects, 364.27 MW equivalent off-grid solar applications including solar lighting & solar pumping and 8.42 million sq. meters solar thermal collectors for solar water heating systems, solar cooking, solar cooling and industrial process heat applications have been set up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in the country. 

The major steps taken by the Government to promote the scheme are:

i.                    The cumulative targets of 20,000 MW grid connected solar power, 2,000 MW off-grid solar applications & 20 million sq. meters solar thermal collector area by 2022 set under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) launched on 11th January, 2010. 

ii.                  Provision for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for solar has been made in the National Tariff Policy.

iii.                Grant of subsidy on off-grid applications.

iv.                Provision of Concessional Import duty/Excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power plants, accelerated depreciation and tax holiday.

v.                  Generation based incentive; viability gap funding and facility for bundled power for Grid connected Solar Power Projects through various interventions announced from time to time.

vi.                Creation of Solar Energy Corporation of India and National Institute of Solar Energy.

vii.               Awareness programmes such as exhibitions, training workshops etc. are being conducted.

viii.            Several R&D efforts have been initiated for new technologies and improvement in efficiency.