India is launching a new scheme to promote clean energy for rural productive uses. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has received an administrative approval to implement the 'Scale Up Of Access To Clean Energy Scheme' in FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20.
This scheme is being implemented as one of four components of United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility's (GEF) project on Scale Up of Access to Clean Energy for Rural Productive Uses (India ACE Project). The project will focus on the states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Under the scheme, the government wants to push decentralized renewable energy technologies for electrical, thermal and mechanical applications to catalyse rural livelihood activities like poultry, dairy, fisheries, etc., in 19 districts of the three states. The scheme is technology neutral and implementing agencies will be at liberty to choose any renewable energy technology. An indicative list of potential technologies include solar PV, biogas, among others. Procurement will be done through tenders.
Eligible beneficiaries will get a subsidy of 30% of the benchmark cost or tender cost from the ministry.
The Government of India will shell out a total of 700 million INR ($10.2 million) for the next two years for this project. GEF and UNDP will provide 310 million INR ($4.52 million), and 470 million INR ($6.85 million) will be mobilized through state government funds, corporate social responsibility, beneficiary contribution and the like.
Details about the scheme are available on the website of MNRE.
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