Government to unveil solar zones policy in June

New Delhi: To encourage solar power generators and equipment manufacturers, the New and Renewable Energy Ministry will unveil a policy on solar zones that would be spread over one or more districts of a state.

"We have been working on a new policy for solar zones, which would be spread over one or even more districts of a state to encourage generators as well as equipment manufactures," Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Joint Secretary Tarun Kapoor told PTI.

"The work on the policy is almost complete and it will be launched next month," he added.

Under the policy, the developer will be provided with inputs like land availability and power evacuation locations for planning his project, the official said.

Unlike solar parks, the developer would have to acquire land for the project and the ministry in collaboration with the states will provide input about availability of land.

The developer will be free to arrange land for the projects as he would have option of either buying or getting land on lease for the purpose.

Government would develop transmission network in each solar zone for evacuation of power at different points to facilitate the developers, Kapoor said.

He further said that each solar zone would have a central office, which will be set up with the support of state governments to guide the developers.

Government plans to add 10,500 MW of solar power generation capacity during the current fiscal. Besides it wants to encourage solar equipment manufacturing capacity in the country.

At present the solar module manufacturing capacity is 5 GW every year. Similarly the solar cell manufacturing capacity is about 2 GW.

India plans to have 175 GW renewable power capacity by 2022, including 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind.