Cabinet OKs Solar Scheme To Give 1 Crore Families 300 Units Of Free Power A Month - NDTV
Cabinet OKs Solar Scheme To Give 1 Crore Families 300 Units Of Free Power A Month
Continuing its push for renewable energy, the government has approved a scheme providing assistance of up to Rs 78,000 to 1 crore families to set up rooftop solar systems, which will enable them to get free electricity up to 300 units per month.
Addressing a press briefing, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that the Union Cabinet has approved the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme, which will have an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore, had been launched by PM Narendra Modi on February 13.
The minister said the scheme will not only help families and give a boost to domestic manufacturing of solar energy components, but also provide direct employment to 17 lakh people.
Under the scheme, central financial assistance (CFA) will be provided for residential rooftop solar installations. An official release said assistance of 60% of system cost will be given for 2 kilowatt (kW) systems and 40% of the additional cost will be given for systems which have a capacity of between 2 and 3 kilowatt. The CFA will be capped at 3 kW.
"At current benchmark prices, this will mean Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher," the release said.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: solar
Declining costs and government encouragement have resulted in a rapid increase in solar energy production in the United States over the past 10 years, although solar’s share remains small: 1.6 percent of all electricity generation in 2018. That rapid growth is projected to continue.