Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
On 22nd January, 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’. This is a solar energy scheme, under this; solar energy systems will be installed on the rooftops of the houses of the considered consumers in India. The government of India has set up a target of 1 crore house, where the solar energy systems will be installed. It aims to reduce the electricity bills of the middle class and below poverty line people. It also aims at incrementing India's self reliance in the energy usage sector. Citizens who belong to the below poverty line or poor section (whose annual income is below 1.5 lakh) can apply for the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana.
Steps to register for the 'Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
Step 1: Register in the portal with the following
- Select your State & Electricity Distribution Company
- Enter your Electricity Consumer Number, Mobile Number & Email
Step 2: Login with Consumer Number & Mobile Number and apply for the Rooftop Solar as per the form
Step 3: Once you get the feasibility approval, get the plant installed by any of the registered vendors in your DISCOM
Step 4: Once installation is completed, submit the plant details and apply for net meter
Step 5: Commissioning certificate will be generated from the portal, after installation of net meter and inspection by DISCOM
Step 6: Once you got the commissioning report submit bank account details and a cancelled cheque through the portal. Subsidy will come your account within 30 working days.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) report
As per the data of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), till December 2023, around 73.3 GW capacities of solar energy systems have been installed. Whereas the roof top solar energy capacity is around 11.08 GW. Roof top solar energy is lesser than the total solar energy. In Rajasthan about 18.7 GW of electricity is produced through solar energy. In Gujarat about 10.5 GW of electricity is produced through solar energy whereas 2.8GW of electricity is produced through roof top solar energy. In Maharashtra around 1.7GW of electricity is produced through roof top solar energy. The share of solar energy in our existing renewable energy capacity is also very high as the total renewable energy is around 180 GW and the share of solar energy in this is around 61%.
World Energy Outlook report
According to the World Energy Outlook, in the upcoming next 30 years, the energy demand in India is going to increase rapidly and in order to meet this energy demand, we require new sources for energy production, since the old sources of energy production would have been exhausted or would be at the verge of being completely exhausted by then. India has planned to reduce the usage of the old sources for energy production, like coal. The government has also decided to increase the renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. Solar energy capacity has expanded in India; in 2010 it was around 10 MW whereas it is around 70.1 GW in 2023.
'Rooftop Solar Program' in 2014
The Indian government had started a similar program 'Rooftop Solar Program' in 2014. The aim of this program was similar to the present one, to install solar system in roof tops of the considerate consumers in India. The program provided central assistance to promote solar roof top energy to the consumers. Discoms (distribution companies) were also targeted in order to spread awareness regarding the benefits of solar energy. Its aim was to increase the capacity of roof top solar energy to 40 GW. The program was quite successful in achieving 10.4 GW capacity in 2023.
Other new schemes commissioned by the government
National Solar Mission, its objective is to promote solar energy in India. International Solar Alliance, started jointly by India and France and now many other countries are also involved in this project, it aims at bringing energy access and ensuring energy security and driving energy transition in its member countries. Its headquarter is in Gurugram. PM Kisan Energy Security and Utthan Maha Abhiyan or PM Kusum Yojana, under this scheme, the government is attempting to replace the diesel pumps or tubular pumps used by the farmers by solar pumps.
