Brief on Off-grid Solar PV Programme
Off-grid Solar PV Applications Programme is one of the oldest programmes of the Ministry aimed at providing solar PV-based applications in areas where grid power is either not available or is unreliable. Applications such as solar home lighting systems, solar street lighting systems, solar power plants, solar pumps, solar lanterns and solar study lamps are covered under the programme.
National Solar Mission, 2010 set a target of 2000 MW equivalent of solar Off-grid and decentralized PV systems by 2022 in three phases. The first phase (2010-13), started from April 2010 to March 2013 and subsequently extended up to 31st December 2014 had a total target of 200 MWp.
In the second phase (2014-17), the cabinet approved the expansion of the Off-grid and decentralized solar PV application programme for 500 MWp for a period of three years starting from May 2014 to March 2017. During the second phase of the Programme, the main thrust was given on important applications especially relevant to rural development such as solar lighting, solar water pumps for irrigation and drinking water facilities, solar study lamps for students and mini/micro-grids.
In the third phase (2018-21), the cabinet approved the expansion of off-grid and decentralized solar PV application programme to create 118 MWp equivalent solar power capacity by 31.03.2021 through off-grid solar PV applications of solar street lights, solar study lamps for the students and off-grid solar PV power plants to government institutions excluding solar pumps which are to be installed under PM KUSUM Scheme and solar home lights which are being supported under Saubhagya Scheme of MoP for a period of three years from 2018-19 to 2019-20, which was extended till 31.03.2021 for sanction of capacities.
The targets and achievements in Phase I, Phase II and Phase III are summarized below:
| Phase | Sanctioned | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Phase-I (2010-13) | 252.5 MW | 117 MW |
| Phase-II (2014-17) | 713 MW | 345.5 MW |
| Phase-III (2018-21) | 20.09 MW | 15.67 MW |
Application-wise status of the installations under the Off-grid and Decentralised Solar PV
Applications Programme till 31.12.2022 are as given below:
| Applications | No. of units/capacity installed |
|---|---|
| Solar Lamps/Lanterns | 84,59,119 |
| Solar Pumps | 5,00,499 |
| Solar Street Lights | 9,44,802 |
| Solar Home Lighting Systems | 17,23,479 |
| Solar Power Plants/Packs | 217 MWp |
Standalone solar pumps were part of the Off-grid and Decentralised Solar PV Applications Scheme up till 31.03.2017. The government have launched a new scheme named Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) which aims to install new standalone solar pumps in off-grid areas and to solarize, existing grid-connected agricultural pumps. Solar home lights which are being taken up under Saubhagya Scheme of Ministry of Power.
In September 2016, MNRE launched Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) for the installation of solar street lighting systems in the states with less than 50% of households covered with grid power as per the 2011 census. Under this program states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh were covered with financial assistance from MPLADS funds. In phase, I of AJAY, a total of 1.35 lakh solar streetlights were installed. The program was continued as AJAY Phase II from December 2018 and implemented in NER states including Sikkim, Hilly states/UTs (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), Islands UTs and in the aspirational districts of the other states with 25% financial assistance from MPLADS fund and balance 75% CFA from MNRE. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation, the AJAY Phase II programme was closed for new sanctions on 31.03.2020 due to the suspension of MPLADS funds by the Government for FY 21 and FY22. Against the DM sanction of 1.50 Lakh Solar Street Lights under AJAY Ph-II total of 1.37 lakh lights were installed.
Ministry also implemented a scheme of distribution of 70 lakh Solar Study lamps to school-going children, which aims to provide rural students with high quality and affordable clean light. The scheme is being implemented in 5 states viz., Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, which have more than 50% un-electrified households, as per the census, 2011. Blocks with more than 50% kerosene-dependent households are being covered under the scheme. The total of around 60 lakh solar study lamps were distributed till the closure of the programme.