The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a new solar energy strategy that seeks to produce 22,000 megawatts of solar energy within the next five years in an effort to promote the usage of renewable energy.
Included in this are the goals of generating 14,000 MW through the construction of a solar park, 45,00 from solar rooftops (in residential areas), 1,500 MW from solar rooftops (in non-residential institutions), and 2,000 MW through PM Kusum Yojana.
The new policy also mentions the creation of Surya Mitra posts, which will assist with solar plant maintenance.
A cabinet meeting was held where the decision was made according to media sources.
Energy Minister AK Sharma has told the media that this policy will be effective from the date of issue and will remain in force for a period of five years or till the new policy is notified by the state government, whichever is earlier.
The minister further said that the cabinet had approved a grant of up to Rs 30,000 per user, of Rs 15,000 per kilowatt. Throughout the policy period, a grant in the amount of Rs 800 crore has been approved every year. On all state educational institutions and government buildings, solar rooftop is permitted with net metering.
Adding to the same, he said that the cabinet has approved (KUSUM C-2) for the establishment of 2,000 MW capacity solar plants of separate agricultural feeders. Approval has been given to provide a 70 percent subsidy to the Scheduled Tribe farmers and 60 percent subsidy to other farmers and a total grant of Rs 1,000 crore in five years during the policy period.
The government has resolved to completely waive the stamp duty fee when buying land for solar systems. Additionally, no environmental clearance is required for any solar power generation projects, and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board will not require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for grid-connected solar PV projects.
He also said that for the implementation of the policy, a decision has been taken to provide Rs 2 lakh per district (municipal corporation headquarters) and Rs 1 lakh per district (municipal corporation headquarters) for publicity during the operation period of five years.
He continued saying that capital subsidy at the rate of Rs 2.5 crore per MW will be provided to solar parks established with storage systems of 5 MW or more capacity. With this, solar energy can be stored, and electricity can be supplied at the time of peak load, the minister said.
He added that UP would be the leading state to encourage the setting up of solar parks with storage systems.
The installation of solar rooftop systems on the rooftops of non-residential structures, including government buildings and all sorts of government or non-government educational institutions, has been set as the state’s goal for generating 1,500 MW of electricity.
Additionally, it has been determined to offer net metering services for solar rooftop systems placed on the roofs of these kinds of non-residential structures.
SOLAR CITY – Ayodhya city will be built as a prototype for a solar city. In addition to this, Noida and 16 other municipal corporations in the state will be transformed into solar cities.
A city is considered to be solar if its installed solar power plants are able to supply at least 10% of the estimated total demand for conventional energy. According to the municipal area’s 2011 Census, the state government will give financial support to the municipal corporations for the construction of solar power plants at a rate of Rs 100 per person.
JOB CREATION – More people will be needed to maintain solar power facilities. For this, 30,000 young people will receive training in solar power plant maintenance and would be awarded the designation “Surya Mitra”. These “Surya Mitras” will be given jobs in this way.
