INDIA’S SOLAR POWER PROGRAM

Why in the News?

  • India’s solar power program, including rooftop systems, lags behind schedule.
  • Prime Minister launches Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana targeting 1 crore houses.
  • Aims to reduce electricity bills, make India energy self-reliant.
Source: TH 

About Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana :

  • Aims to rapidly install solar power systems on one crore houses, promoting rooftop solar capacity.
  • Offers incentives and financial assistance to make rooftop solar adoption affordable for residential consumers.
  • No specific timeline provided for the implementation of the scheme.
  • Reduces monthly electricity bills for households adopting solar rooftops.
  • Aligns with India’s target of reaching 500GW renewable energy by 2030, emphasizing solar contribution.
Solar Energy status:

·     2014 target of 100 GW solar power by 2022 missed by a significant margin.

·    Grid-connected rooftop solar, part of the plan, achieved only 11 GW by the end of last year.

·    Aims to tap into the untapped residential sector, which currently constitutes only 20% of rooftop solar installations.

·     CEEW report reveals the potential to deploy 637 GW on rooftops, with about 118 GW considered feasible.