The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India has allowed for old solar off-grid plants sanctioned under MNRE Scheme to be connected to the grid. It has taken the decision basis requests received from state nodal agencies and implementing agencies under Off-grid and Decentralized Solar PV Applications Programme for the same.
As per the MNRE order, places where off-grid solar power plants were installed and that now have reliable grid power supply with net metering provisions, at such places the off-grid plants should be connected to the grid. It will lead to optimal utilization of assets, said MNRE.
The conversion of such power plants will be done subject to regulatory provisions and the cost will be borne by the concerned state government or beneficiary departments, read the MNRE circular.
According to the ministry's latest installations numbers, till March 31, 2019 total off-grid/captive power capacity of solar PV systems in the country was 915.61 MW eq, as 244.2 MW eq was installed in FY 2018-19 in this category. In June 2018, the MNRE said India will target installing an additional 118 MW of off-grid solar PV capacity by 2020 under Phase-III of its Off-Grid and Decentralized PV Application Programme (see India Aiming For 118 MW Off-Grid PV By 2020).
Under the Saubhagya Scheme of the Ministry of Power, India had claimed achieving completion of electrification in 100% households in 25 states by 2018-end.