Installed solar power capacity touches 5,000 MW in January

New Delhi: The government today said the installed capacity of solar power crossed 5,000 MW in January and expressed confidence that the target of 18,000 MW would be achieved by 2017-end.

"The installed capacity of solar power in India crossed the milestone of 5,000 MW in January this year and would achieve target of 18,000 MW by end of next year," Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in a statement.

Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministries of Power and New & Renewable Energy held meeting in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh yesterday and reviewed progress of implementation of solar park scheme and also steps taken by the NTPC to reduce emissions and increase efficiency.

The meeting was chaired by Power, Coal Minister New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal and was attended by members of Lok Sabha Bharat Singh, Om Prakash Yadav, Sushil Kishore Singh, Jayadev Galla and member of the Rajya Sabha Bashistha Narain Singh.

Goyal welcomed the members and informed them that the NDA government has initiated world's largest renewable energy programme by increasing fivefold target from exiting 35,000 MW to 175 GW capacity by 2022.

The statement further said the government has initiated several projects like Scheme for Development of Solar Parks. It is envisaged to achieve 20 GW through ultra-mega solar parks.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) MD Ashvini Kumar gave detailed presentation highlighting salient features, physical and financial status of solar park scheme.

Giving details, he said as against 25 solar parks planned, the ministry has approved 33 solar parks in 21 states with aggregate capacity of 19,900 MW.

SECI has been made implementing agency and out of Rs 374 crore sanctioned, it has released Rs 54.93 crore to respective States development agencies.

In his presentation, NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh explained to the members about various steps taken by NTPC to reduce emissions in air and water and also to increase efficiency of plants.

Members gave several suggestions for roof top solar, smart grids and load levelling plan, the statement said.

MNRE Secretary Upendra Tripathy, Power Secretary P K Pujari among others also attended the meeting.