MNRE details roles and responsibilities of discoms under the 12 GW solar CPSU programme

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a notification regarding the modalities and the role of distribution companies (discoms) for the second phase of the central public sector undertaking (CPSU) programme. This government programme aims to set up 12,000 MW of grid-connected solar photo-voltaic (PV) power projects for self-use or use by government entities. The implementation of this programme is expected to create an investment of Rs 480 billion and provide direct employment to 60,000 people for about a year in the pre-commissioning phase and 18,000 people for the next 25 years during the operations and maintenance (O&M) period. In the next three years, solar PV projects of a total capacity of 12 GW are expected to be tendered under the CPSU programme (Phase II). Moreover, 4 GW will be tendered in 2019-20, followed by another 4 GW in 2020-21 and then in 2021-22.