In a written reply to Lok Sabha, the Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy has mentioned that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced the following programmes to encourage public sector undertakings to develop solar power plants across the country.
In January 2015, the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for 1,000 MW grid connected solar projects by central public sector undertakings (CPSUs) and government entities was announced. Up till February 28, 2022, approximately 882 MW of solar PV power installations have been installed under this scheme. This scheme is now closed. In March 2019, a scheme for CPSUs to construct 12,000 MW of grid-connected solar projects with VGF support [CPSU scheme phase-II (government producer scheme)] was started.
As part of its CSR initiative, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a CPSU under the MNRE, has sanctioned a sum of Rs 1.7 million for the installation of an 8,000 LPD solar water heating system at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra during the financial year 2018-19. Renewable energy projects with a capacity of more than 100 GW have been erected throughout the country, bringing with them a slew of advantages, including decreased tariffs.
