During 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, the Ministry of New And Renewable Energy released Rs. 11.78 crores, Rs. 12.47 crores, Rs. 8.12 crores and Rs. 3.82 crores respectively to West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency for various off-grid solar photovoltaic systems and power projects.
The Ministry, under the Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Application scheme of JNNSM provides a subsidy of 30% of the project cost ranging from Rs 42/- to Rs. 72/- per watt peak for off-grid SPV power plants having module capacity up to 100 kWp depending on their capacity and configuration in general category States. In Special Category States, UT Islands and districts with international borders, the ministry provides 90% of the cost of the off-grid SPV power plants limited to in the range of Rs. 126/- and Rs 216/- per Wp for installation by Central and State Government Ministries, departments and their organizations, State Nodal Agencies and Local Bodies. The Ministry also provides a subsidy of 30% of the cost of project limited to Rs. 150 per watt for installation of micro/mini-grid SPV power plants of unit capacity up to 250 kW.
The ministry is providing generation based incentives at a rate equal to difference between CERC approved applicable tariff and a notional rate of Rs. 5.50 per unit for the year 2010-11, escalated at three per cent every year thereafter for solar power projects of total capacity 100 MW. The Government is extending exemption on excise duty on the components procured from within the country and levying concessional customs duty on the components imported for the first time installation of solar power plant. Accelerated depreciation and tax holiday facilities are also available for solar power projects.
State-wise funds released during 2012-13 under the Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme for SPV systems/devices and power plants is given below:
States/UTs Fund released in Rs. In Lakhs during 2012-13
Andhra Pradesh 134.41
Arunachal Pradesh 582.26
Assam 223
Bihar 20
Chhattisgarh 5280.13
Haryana 225.69
Himachal Pradesh 191.39
Jammu & Kashmir 3361.10
Jharkhand 270.49
Karnataka 113.59
Kerala 854.68
Madhya Pradesh 448.97
Maharashtra 27.57
Manipur 1483.30
Mizoram 178.80
Nagaland 1036.40
Punjab 96.51
Rajasthan 3890.32
Sikkim 261.63
Tamil Nadu 127.95
Tripura 401.90
Uttarakhand 123.00
Uttar Pradesh 2675.35
West Bengal 382.02
Others CEL, REIL, NABRD, 17526.01
RRBS, NGOs and system integrators, etc.
TOTAL 39916.47