Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission: Overview

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission: Overview

Question: Renewable energy is critical for ecological conservation. Provide an overview of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in this context.

- Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched in January 2010 by the PM.

- Mission has established the target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022

- Government has revised the National Solar Mission target of Grid Connected Solar Power projects from 20,000 to 1,00,000 MW by 2022.

- Revised target of 1,00,000 MW is to be achieved through establishment of Distributed Rooftop Solar Projects and Medium and Large Scale Solar Projects

- Revised National Solar Mission is under implementation

- Mission holds that custom and excise duty exemption is applicable for several input raw materials for the manufacturing of solar power devices, which will help to reduce price of solar power

The mission seeks to reduce the cost of solar power generation through the following means:

- Long term policy

- Large scale deployment goals

- Advanced research and development

- Domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products

- Mission aims to establish India as a global leader in solar energy

- Mission has a three phased approach coming under the following plans:

Phase 1: First Year of 12th Plan(2012-2013)

Phase 2: Remaining years of 12th Plan(2013-2017)

Phase 3: 13th Plan (2017-2022)

- The mission also works towards establishing an enabling environment for solar technology penetration at centralised and decentralised level

- The Mission also envisages ramping up capacity of grid connected solar power generation to 1000 MW within 3 years by 2013; additional 3000 MW by 2017 through use of renewable purchase obligation through utilities associated with preferential tariff

- The capacity will be doubled to 10,000MW installed power by 2017 or later

- Creating favourable conditions for solar manufacturing capability especially solar thermal for indigenous production and market leadership is another focus of this scheme

- Promoting programmes for off grid applications including 20 million solar lighting systems were stressed by the mission

- Mission also aims to set up a 20 million square solar thermal collector area by 2022

Facts and Stats

- Implementation of targets will be under NTPC Vidyut Vyapat Nigam, an NTPC trading subsidiary which will purchase the solar power from project developers as per guidelines and norms

- 100 MW capacity of solar roof top and small grid connected solar power plants will be connected to distribution utility of LT/11 KV grid of the distribution utility and solar power will be purchased by distribution utilities as per guidelines and norms

- Similarly 200 MW equivalent capacity of off grid solar apps both solar thermal and photovoltaic will be implemented through low interest bearing loans and central/financial assistance as per norms as well

- Mission will also support activities such as outreach, HRD, R&D, technical assistance, training and publicity and awareness