• Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency to give subsidy for grid connected rooftop PV projects under MNRE directives
  • Subsidy to be given on first come first serve basis for a total of 100 MW rooftop PV capacity in Tamil Nadu
  • The state of Chhattisgarh has asked rooftop developers to submit revised rates and quote lower than $0.09 for CAPEX and $0.08 for OPEX models for state’s rooftop capacity

The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu will get Central Finance Assistance (CFA) for its grid connected solar rooftop power projects worth 22.50 INR per watt ($0.33). This government subsidy will be available for systems ranging from 1 kW up to 500 kW for a total of 100 MW capacity.

The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has provided this subsidy under its Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Program. The subsidy will be disbursed on first come first serve basis to the beneficiaries through the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA).

The scheme is eligible to residential, institutional and buildings in the social sector such as community centers, old age homes, orphanages.

Revised rates in Chhattisgarh
In another rooftop PV news from India, project developers in Chhattisgarh have been asked to submit revised rates for project implementation of grid connected rooftop PV projects. The new directive has come from the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). According to clean energy consultancy Mercom Capital Group, much lower prices were offered in a 500 MW rooftop PV tender floated by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) recently. Bidders in the state have been asked to submit revised rates that are below 6.78 INR per kW ($0.09) for CAPEX-based PV systems and 5.91 INR per kW ($0.08) for OPEX-based installations.

The new directive will apply to the state’s portion of 500 MW grid connected rooftop PV auctioned by SECI, stated Mercom. But CREDA’s website maintains that the revised rates will be for rooftop PV for five years anywhere in the state. The bid submission date has been extended to November 30, 2016. The earlier date was November 15, 2016.

Chhattisgarh has made it mandatory for new government buildings, semi-government establishments and institutional bodies to install rooftop PV. CREDA stated on its website, “There is significant rate difference between CREDA’s prevailing tender rate and SECI rates despite stringent terms and
conditions set of SECI, like separate processing feed, big bond, etc., for implementation of the project. Hence it has been decided to invite fresh rates for implementation of grid connected rooftop SPVPPs in the state (under market mode/CREDA purchase).”

Under the state’s Solar Policy 2012-2017, Chhattisgarh wants to achieve a solar power generation capacity of 500 MW to 1,000 MW by March 2017.

With the central government aiming to have 40 GW of grid connected rooftop PV capacity by 2022, there is an all out effort to keep things moving fast in the segment. As of September 2016, India’s rooftop capacity stood at 1,020 MW, according to another clean energy consultancy Bridge to India (see India Crosses 1 GW PV Rooftop Capacity).