Solar capacity increased

The #Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a scheme to set up 50 solar parks, each of 500 MW, in a move to increase solar park capacity in the country.

The approval increases capacity of the #Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects to 40,000 MW from 20,000 MW.

The scheme would also consider smaller parks in Himalayan and other hilly States where contiguous land may be difficult to acquire in view of the difficult terrain.

The capacity increase is a response to demand for additional solar parks from the States.

The Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects will be set up by 2019-20 with Central Government financial support of Rs.8,100 crore.

The total capacity when operational will generate 64 billion units of electricity per year. This would lead to abatement of around 55 million tonnes of CO2 per year over its life cycle.

#Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is in the midst of implementing the development of at least 25 solar parks with 20,000 MW capacity since its launch in December 2014.

Thirty-four solar parks of 20,000 MW capacity have been approved and are at various stages of development, according to a government press note on 22 February 2017. fii-news.com