20,000 MW grid solar power by 2022 under Nehru solar mission

The Government today said that it has approved the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission with an aim of setting up 20,000 MW grid solar power and 2,000 MW off-grid solar power by 2022.

The mission also aims to develop solar technologies for making solar power competitive to conventional grid power and install 20 million square metre solar thermal collective area by 2022, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The Minister added that the mission will be implemented in three phases and government has approved the target to set up 1,100 MW grid connected solar plants and 200 MW capacity equivalent off-grid solar applications in the first phase till 2012-13.

The mission will also support research and development to reduce cost, improve efficiency and overall performance of solar energy systems and also for development of new materials and devices, Abdullah said.

In reply to another query, he said government has taken several measures to attract private investment in setting up renewable power generation projects, which include fiscal and financial incentives.

He added that State Electricity Regulatory Commissions will now have to fix a minimum percentage for purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources.