Grid-connected solar generation capacity touches 7.8 GW

Total installed solar power generation capacity in the country touched 7,805 MW mark by June-end this year with Rajasthan topping the charts with 1,294.60 MW, Parliament was informed today.
Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh followed Rajasthan with grid connected solar power generation capacity of 1,267.41 MW and 1,123.36 MW respectively as on June 30, 2016, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
India has set an ambitious target of adding one lakh MW of solar power generation capacity, including 40,000 MW from solar rooftops.
In another reply, the Minister said the government has taken several initiatives to achieve this target.

He further said the World Bank has approved concessional loan of USD 500 million, Clean Technology loan of USD 120 million and Clean Technology Fund grant of USD five million to State Bank of India for the grid connected rooftop solar projects.
As on June 30, 2016, estimates show that states will invest Rs 6,254 crore on solar power projects in the current fiscal, Goyal said.
The estimated investments by states on solar projects was Rs 18,113 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 6,672 crore in 2014-15.
Government has planned to add over 10,000 MW of solar power generation capacity during the current fiscal.