Miscellaneous Schemes/ Initiatives under MNRE
Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects
- Concept: A solar park is a large piece of land that is fully prepared with infrastructure (roads, transmission lines, drainage, water supply, and statutory clearances) so that solar companies can directly install grid-connected solar projects without delays.
- Target: At least 50 Solar Parks/Ultra Mega Solar Projects → 40 GW solar capacity.
- Capacity: Each park = 500 MW or more.
- Tenure: By 2023-24.
- Significance: Helps states/UTs speed up large-scale clean power generation.
- Current Status(as of 2025): Parks sanctioned: 50+; Installed Capacity: 12.4 GW
Development of Solar Cities
- Idea: At least one city per state (either capital or a tourist hub) will be developed as a Solar City.
- Goal: 100% electricity needs met from Renewable Energy (RE), mainly solar.
- Purpose: Showcase model cities where clean energy meets urban needs fully.
Greening of Islands
- Objective: Convert Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands into 100% Green Energy Zones.
- Target: Deploy 52 MW of distributed solar PV projects.
- Reason: Islands depend heavily on costly diesel imports → replacing with solar ensures energy security + sustainability.
Green Energy Corridor (GEC) – Phase II
- Background:
- Phase I: Grid integration & transmission for ~24 GW RE capacity in 8 states (AP, Gujarat, Himachal, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, TN).
- Phase II:
- Focus on Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) for 20 GW renewable energy projects.
- Coverage: Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
- Support: Central Financial Assistance (CFA) = 33% of project cost.
- Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26.
- Purpose: Strengthen power grid to absorb large-scale renewable energy smoothly.
Suryamitra Skill Development Programme
- Objective: Train youth (18+ years) as solar PV technicians for installation, operation, and maintenance of solar systems.
- Implementing Agency: National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram.
- Significance: Builds a skilled workforce → creates jobs + ensures proper upkeep of solar projects.
National Bioenergy Programme (NBP)
- Aim: Support waste-to-energy plants that generate biogas, bio-CNG, and electricity from urban, industrial, and agricultural waste.
- Tenure: 2021-22 to 2025-26.
- Key Sub-Schemes:
- Waste-to-Energy Programme: Large plants using urban/industrial/agricultural waste.
- Biomass Programme: Support for briquettes, pellets, and cogeneration projects (non-bagasse industries).
- Biogas Programme: Family-size and medium biogas plants in rural areas.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects (OWEP)
- Purpose: Commission 1,000 MW offshore wind power projects (500 MW each off Gujarat & Tamil Nadu coasts).
- Implementation Agency: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
- Technical Support: National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) → provides expertise, stage-II clearance, and support under National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, 2015.
- Significance: Helps India enter the offshore wind sector (a future growth area for renewable energy)