Govt extends Rooftop Solar Programme till March 2026

The government asked consumers not to pay any additional charge for solar installations as the ‘Rooftop Solar Programme’ has been extended till March 31, 2026.

The subsidy under the programme will be available until the target under the programme is achieved.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the portal for the scheme on July 30, 2022.

Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme

• The phase-1 of Rooftop Solar Programme was launched on December 30, 2015 in which incentives and subsidies were provided for residential, institutional and social sectors. For the government sector, achievement linked incentives were also provided. 

• The phase-2 was launched in February 2019 with a target of achieving cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW by the year 2022. 

• The programme will be implemented with total central financial support of Rs 11,814 crore.

• Under the scheme, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 40 per cent for RTS systems up to 3 kW capacity and 20 per cent for capacity beyond 3 kW and up to 10 kW is provided. 

• For Group Housing Societies (GHS) and Residents Welfare Associations (RWA), CFA is limited to 20 per cent for RTS plants for supply of power to common facilities. 

• The phase-2 of the programme has provision of incentives to DISCOMs. As per the scheme, DISCOMs will get the incentive for addition of capacity achieving in the  nancial year above the baseline capacity as on March 31 of the previous year. 

• The programme will have substantial environmental impact in terms of savings of CO2 emissions.  Considering average energy generation of 1.5 million units per MW, it is expected that addition of 38 GW solar rooftop plants under phase-2 by year 2022 will result in reduction of CO2 emission by about 45.6 tonnes per year.

• The programme has directed employment potential. Besides increasing self-employment, it is likely to generate employment opportunities  equivalent to 9.39 lakh job years for skilled and unskilled workers for addition of 38 GW capacity under phase-2 of the scheme.

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