Gujarat Solar Policy:
The Gujarat (State) government has implemented a number of legislative steps to lessen the effects of climate change, which it recognises are becoming more pronounced at both the local and national levels.
Due to its geography, the State offers a substantial potential for solar energy resources and has already seen the development of both large-scale and distributed solar PV systems. Over 3,200 MW of solar PV systems have been deployed by the State since the launch of solar energy in 2009 and its revisions in 2015 and 2019. These installations will last through 2020.
The State plans to speed the adoption of solar power by implementing large-scale projects, small-scale distributed systems, and the creation of ultra mega solar parks in order to match with India's ambitious solar PV capacity expansion programme. By implementing new mechanisms that serve customers, companies, and industry developers, these goals will be met.
The aim of Gujarat's solar energy policy:
The State aspires to achieve its sustainable development objectives by promoting solar energy development in a way that would position it as an established source of energy supply and a major contributor to the national goal of 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 as part of India's Global Commitment.
Objectives of the Gujarat’s solar power policy:
- Boost the state's solar energy capacity significantly.
- In order to decrease reliance on fossil fuels and increase energy security
- To advance Gujarat's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
- To strengthen professionals' fundamental technical skills by encouraging research, development, deployment, and innovation in the solar energy industry.
- To raise knowledge of solar power technologies among all the electricity consumers.
- To foster an environment that encourages investment
- Promotion of nearby manufacturing facilities, employment creation and skill development.
Gujarat’s Solar Subsidy Scheme:
According to the approval of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL), The Nodal Agency carried out implementing the MNRE's Phase-II Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme and Residential Rooftop Solar Subsidy Plot (Surya Gujarat Scheme) in the Gujarat State.
During the month of February 2022, MGVCL (Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd.), one of Gujarat's DisComs, floated tenders for qualified bidders to participate in the Request for Selection (RFS) of empanelment of sellers (EoV or EoI) for Site Survey, Plan, Installation, Supply, Erection, Testing and Commissioning including Warranty and 5 years of Comprehensive Operation and Maintenance of Roof Top Solar PV Power Systems for Residential Customers of Urban Area and Rural Area in the territory of Gujarat.
The Residential Rooftop Solar Subsidy is administered in accordance with the Ministry of New and Sustainable Energy's (MNRE) Operational Guidelines for the Execution of Phase-II (RTS Stage II) of the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Program with a combined goal of 40 GW (40,000 MW) by the end of FY'2022, with 4 GW (4000 MW) for Residential Rooftop installations or, alternatively, for Residential Sector.
MGVCL / GUVNL Tender, Surya Gujarat Solar RoofTop Phase II Program Highlights:
MGVCL conducted two separate/distinctive tenders for the Surya Gujarat Scheme, providing a cycle with a total capacity of 1000 MW (1 GW) as a CAPEX model in accordance with the below subtleties.
For Urban Area:
700 MW limit sensitive threshold for Gujarat Urban Area to advance and more focus on Urban Solar Deployment Program. Consumers in the DisCom Tariff Category, RGPU (Residential General Purpose - Urban), will be eligible for the Urban region limit.
For Rural Area:
300 MW limit drifted for Gujarat Rural Area to convey sunlight based power plant to take part in "Environmentally friendly power Energy" transformation and advance Urban Solar Sending Program. Customers in the DisCom Tariff Category, RGPR (Residential General Purpose - Rural), will be eligible for the Rural region limit.
| Tariff category | Capacity in MW |
|---|---|
| Urban - RGPU | 700 |
| Rural- RGPR | 300 |
Surya Gujarat RRT (Residential RoofTop) Scheme Subsidy:
Residential Homeowners, Group Housing Society (GHS), and Private Welfare Association (RWA) will be eligible for solar subsidies if on-matrix planetary groups are introduced.
Residential on-matrix sunlight-based projects of up to 3 KW will satisfy all conditions for a 40% endowment.
Residential Rooftop Solar Installations over 3 KW and up to 10 KW will receive a sponsorship of 40% for the first 3 KW and 20% for the excess limit, and Residential Rooftop Solar Installations over 10 kW will receive a sponsorship of 40% for the first 3 KW and 20% for the excess limit. However, there is no sponsorship above the 10 KW restriction.
| Beneficiary | Upto 3 KW | >3 KW to 10 KW | Subsidy Restriction on capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 40% | 20% | 10 kW |
| Expansion on existing capacity | 40% | 20% | 10 kW |
| Group Housing Socities/ Residential welfare associations | 20% | 20% | Individual residents may use up to 500 kW with a 10 kW limitation. |
Surya Gujarat Solar RRT Scheme DisCom Target Allocation:
Surya Gujarat Solar RRT Subsidy Scheme has been launched with a 1000 MW (1 GW) sunlight-based powerplant capable of being distributed across Gujarat's urban and rural areas. Gujarat has five distribution companies (DGVCL, MGVCL, UGVCL, PGVCL, and Torrent-Ahmedabad/Surat) operating throughout the state (Solar Subsidy Gujarat).
Conclusion:
According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Gujarat, prime minister Narendra Modi's home state, is dominating the country in solar rooftop energy generation (domestic), with more than 50,000 such plants under construction across the state.
The government has set an ambitious goal of generating 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, with solar energy accounting for 100GW of that total. Of the 100GW, 60GW is anticipated to come from large-scale solar power plants, while the remaining 40GW must be generated by rooftop units.
Gujarat is the only state that offers a glimmer of hope in this otherwise grim outlook. In 2021, the state implemented a new solar energy policy that will allow domestic electricity consumers to commercially lease their rooftops for power generation purposes.