The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended the guidelines for the implementation of its program under which the government aims to develop 2 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the third batch of the National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase-II.

According to the new amendment, if there is a delay in the allotment of land for the project or connectivity by the government, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) can now extend the time for the financial closure and commissioning date of the project, without any financial implications to the project developer.

Earlier, in such delays, SECI could extend the time for financial closure and commissioning date only up to three months. In case of extension beyond three months, SECI was earlier mandated to approach the MNRE with full justification for the delay, which would then be authorized to decide on further extension up to two months with the approval of its joint secretary and if the delay exceeds five months in total, the approval of MNRE’s secretary will be needed.

However, under the new amendment, if SECI itself is the solar park or project developer, then the approval for any extension will be given only by the MNRE.

This the fourth time the MNRE has amended guidelines for implementation of VGF program. Prior to this, in June 2018, MNRE amended the guidelines for the implementation of the VGF program for solar PV projects under NSM Phase-II.

The MNRE has also amended, for a fourth time, the VGF guidelines to develop 5 GW of solar projects with VGF under the fourth batch of the NSM Phase-II.