India generated 33,029.39 mn units of wind power, 7,447.92 mn units of solar power in FY16: minister

Generation of electricity from wind and solar sources in the country stood at 33,029.39 million units and 7,447.92 million units, respectively, during 2015-16, minister of state for power, coal, new and renewable energy and mines Piyush Goyal informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Quoting figures received from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the minister said during the last two years, ie, 2014-15 and 2015-16, the country added a total of 5,735 MW of wind power capacity and 4,131 MW of solar power capacity.

The minister also told that a capacity addition target of 4,000 MW and 12,000 MW has been proposed for generation of electricity from wind and solar energy, respectively, during 2016-17 and a total of 315 MW have been installed under Solar Roof top Scheme. Power generated from these projects is being used for both domestic and captive use, the minister informed.

Goyal stated that tenders for 20,766 MW solar power projects have been issued. He also said that the wind power projects are mainly developed by private sector under various modes, including PPA, REC, captive use, third party sale etc, adding that the centre has not undertaken construction of wind energy project.

• Goyal said that his ministry is implementing several schemes to promote generation of solar and wind energy. These include: Development of solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects
• Development of solar PV power plants on canal banks / canal tops
• Setting up of 300 MW grid connected solar PV power projects by defence establishments under ministry of defence and para military forces with viability gap funding (VGF) under Batch-IV of Phase-II/III of Jawharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM)
• Setting up 1,000 MW grid-connected solar PV power projects by CPSUs with VGF under Batch-V of Phase-II of JNNSM
• Setting up of 15,000 MW grid-connected solar PV power projects under Batch II of Phase II of National Solar Mission (by NTPC/NVVN)
• Setting up of 2000 MW grid-connected solar power projects with VGF through Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and generation based incentive scheme for promotion of wind power

In reply to another question in the Lok Sabha, the minister stated that a master plan for making Chandigarh a model solar city under the 'Development of Solar Cities' programme of the ministry of new and renewable energy has been prepared. Towards this the government has also set up a solar city cell to monitor progress of its implementation.

The minister further stated that the union territory of Chandigarh has empanelled 48 solar power aggregators from whom any resident of Chandigarh can install rooftop solar power plants and also avail of the 30 per cent subsidy.

Solar rooftop power plants of aggregate 7.70 MW capacity have been installed on 145 government buildings in the city till May 2016.