India Solar Policy Roundup: February 2017

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Here is a renewable energy policy roundup from central, state and government agencies in India for the month of February 2017.

The increase in installed capacity of solar parks from 20 GW to 40 GW has been approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs. By 2019-2020, 50 solar parks with a capacity of 500 MW or above are expected to be constructed.

Sikkim became the 22nd state/union territory to join Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana. The state is expected to derive a net benefit of ~Rs.2.07 billion (~$31.01 million) by joining the program.

The state cabinet of Jammu & Kashmir has approved the draft solar rooftop policy 2016, under which solar rooftop projects aggregating 450 MW will be installed in the state by 2022.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) released draft tariff regulations for the three-year period 2017-2020.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed reducing the minimum project size under the viability gap funding (VGF) program to 5 MW for special category states and union territories.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has proposed a new benchmark solar tariff of Rs.4.50 (~$0.0673)/kWh with accelerated depreciation and a tariff of Rs.4.41 (~$0.0659)/kWh without accelerated depreciation for FY 2017-18. The proposal is open for comments and suggestions up to March 15, 2017.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has reduced the solar tariff under the Defense Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Program to Rs.4.50 (~$0.06735)/kWh from the previous Rs.5.50 (~$0.8232)/kWh.

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