Page 11 - Solar Energy in India: Challenges with Policies for Off-Grid Installations
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government has also rolled out various low-temperature applications will be beneficiaries of this scheme are the
policies and subsidies to promote this advantageous from rural electrification village households that get solar power
sector. In addition, every state has a perspective and meeting other energy for their basic requirements of lighting.
nodal agency, focussing solely on the needs for power and heating and For instance, about 1400 solar-powered
issues related to renewable energy. cooling in both rural and urban areas. villages in Chattisgarh, which are not
connected to the national grid because
The Government of India has come Rural electrification has been they are in a remote area, have been
out with a number of policies and accorded top-most priority by the enjoying the benefits of electrification
programmes for promotion of solar Indian government. Under the under this Remote Village Electrification
energy in India. The National Solar National Solar Mission, one of the Programme.
Mission is one of the major initiatives programmes for off-grid power solution
of the central and state governments is the Remote Village Electrification As far as the urban areas are
to promote ecologically sustainable Programme brought forth by MNRE. concerned, the government is working
growth while addressing India’s energy The Ministry is implementing this towards development of solar energy
security challenge. Solar is currently programme for providing financial systems and devices. Under MNRE’s
high on absolute costs compared to support for electrification of those energy-efficient solar/green buildings
other sources of power. The Mission remote unelectrified census villages programme, GRIHA rating system is
recognizes that there are a number of and unelectrified hamlets of electrified being promoted. Under ‘Development
off-grid solar applications particularly census villages where grid-extension is of Solar Cities Programme’, the Ministry
for meeting rural energy needs, which either not feasible or not cost effective. had proposed to support 60 cities/
are already cost effective and provides Such villages are provided basic facilities towns for Development as ‘Solar/Green
for their rapid expansion. It also for electricity through various renewable Cities’ during the Eleventh Plan period
states that off-grid decentralized and energy sources, particularly solar.The with the aim to promote the use of solar
energy future 17 january–march 2017
policies and subsidies to promote this advantageous from rural electrification village households that get solar power
sector. In addition, every state has a perspective and meeting other energy for their basic requirements of lighting.
nodal agency, focussing solely on the needs for power and heating and For instance, about 1400 solar-powered
issues related to renewable energy. cooling in both rural and urban areas. villages in Chattisgarh, which are not
connected to the national grid because
The Government of India has come Rural electrification has been they are in a remote area, have been
out with a number of policies and accorded top-most priority by the enjoying the benefits of electrification
programmes for promotion of solar Indian government. Under the under this Remote Village Electrification
energy in India. The National Solar National Solar Mission, one of the Programme.
Mission is one of the major initiatives programmes for off-grid power solution
of the central and state governments is the Remote Village Electrification As far as the urban areas are
to promote ecologically sustainable Programme brought forth by MNRE. concerned, the government is working
growth while addressing India’s energy The Ministry is implementing this towards development of solar energy
security challenge. Solar is currently programme for providing financial systems and devices. Under MNRE’s
high on absolute costs compared to support for electrification of those energy-efficient solar/green buildings
other sources of power. The Mission remote unelectrified census villages programme, GRIHA rating system is
recognizes that there are a number of and unelectrified hamlets of electrified being promoted. Under ‘Development
off-grid solar applications particularly census villages where grid-extension is of Solar Cities Programme’, the Ministry
for meeting rural energy needs, which either not feasible or not cost effective. had proposed to support 60 cities/
are already cost effective and provides Such villages are provided basic facilities towns for Development as ‘Solar/Green
for their rapid expansion. It also for electricity through various renewable Cities’ during the Eleventh Plan period
states that off-grid decentralized and energy sources, particularly solar.The with the aim to promote the use of solar
energy future 17 january–march 2017
