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					</table>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has revised the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) rates for biomass pellet manufacturing units under the National Bioenergy Program.
The program has been promoting the production of briquettes, pellets, and biomass (non-bagasse)-based cogeneration in industries from the financial year 2021-2022 and will be in force to 2025 &#8211; 2026.
According to the November 2022 notification, the CFA rate for briquettes or pellet manufacturing plants was ₹0.9 million (~$10,767) per MTPH manufacturing capacity with a maximum CFA of ₹4.5 million (~$53,832.6) per plant.
The rate, which applies to all states and union territories, has now been revised to:
<ul>
<li>Briquette manufacturing plant: ₹0.9 million (~$10,767) per MTPH with a maximum of ₹4.5 million (~$53,808) per project</li>
<li>Non-torrefied pellet manufacturing plant: ₹1 million (~$25,106) per MTPH production capacity or 30% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of one MTPH plant, whichever is lower</li>
<li>Torrefied pellet manufacturing plant: ₹2 million (~$50,214) per MTPH production capacity or 30% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of one MTPH plant, whichever is lower</li>
</ul>
The revised CFA rate will apply to the projects the Ministry receives in the Biourja Portal under Phase-I of the Biomass section of the National Bioenergy Program.
In November 2022, MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-approves-%E2%82%B98-5-billion-national-bioenergy-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">notified</a> the National Bioenergy Program, valid from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. The program was recommended for implementation in two phases. A budget outlay of ₹8.58 billion (~$104.66 million) was approved for Phase I.
Out of the total budget, ₹6 billion (~$73.18 million) was approved for the waste-to-energy program, ₹1.58 billion (~$19.27 million) for the biomass program, and 1 billion (~$12.19 million) for the biogas program.
The CFA for briquette and pellet manufacturing projects was set at ₹900,000 (~$10.978) per metric ton/hour manufacturing capacity with a maximum CFA of ₹4.5 million (~$54,891) per project.
For biomass (non-bagasse) cogeneration projects, the CFA was set at ₹4 million (~$48,792)/MW (on installed capacity) with a maximum CFA of ₹50 million (~$609,900) per project.
In May, the <a href="https://powermin.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Power</a> <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/coal-fired-power-plants-run-biomass-pellets-annually" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mandated</a> that every coal-based thermal power project operated by power generation utilities equipped with bowl mills incorporate a 5% blend of biomass pellets derived from agro residue annually. This mandate will take effect one year from the date this guideline is issued. Subsequently, the obligation will increase to 7% after two years and remain at this level.

MNRE Revises CFA Rate for Biomass Pellet Manufacturing Units

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					</table>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has issued the operational guidelines to implement the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for the component &#8220;Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to residential consumers.&#8221;
These guidelines pertain to implementing CFA to residential consumers under the capex mode for eligible consumer categories only. The guidelines for other components of the program will be issued separately.
The guidelines will be applicable for all applications received on the national portal from February 13, 2024. The implementation period of the program will be until March 31, 2027.
Eligible consumers can utilize the PM Surya Ghar national portal to receive program benefits.
Any consumer with a valid Consumer Account Number (or its equivalent) from a power distribution company (DISCOM) can apply on the portal. The portal generates an application ID and provides tools like informational aids and decision-making resources to aid in choosing rooftop solar configurations.
Transition from Existing Program
The Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Phase II Program, active since 2019 and proposed to run until 2025-26, is now integrated into the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Until the new program&#8217;s dedicated budget is operational, CFA and other financial releases for PM Surya Ghar will be funded from the Phase II Program&#8217;s budget.
Once operational, the new program&#8217;s funds will cover the ongoing liabilities of the Phase II Program.
Ongoing projects under Phase II will follow the guidelines of Phase II, but budgetary releases will come from the new program&#8217;s outlay.
Central Financial Assistance 
The program provides financial support for installing grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the residential sector. Eligible installations must be on a residential property&#8217;s roof, terrace, balcony, elevated structures, and building integrated PV systems.
Installations under group net metering and virtual net metering are eligible if approved by the local DISCOM and located on specified structures.
CFA support is available for consumer-funded installations through personal capital or loans. RESCO and state-led aggregation models are excluded and will be addressed through separate guidelines.
Non-residential segments (government, commercial, and industrial) are not eligible for CFA.
Connections eligible under the program are for shared facilities in group housing and residential welfare associations and not for individual residential consumers. CFA support is provided to entities responsible for maintaining common facilities, such as apartment owner associations and cooperative housing societies.
State and union governments may provide additional subsidies, which must align with program guidelines and integrate with the national portal for disbursement.
Benchmark costs will be revised during the program&#8217;s midterm review or earlier if module prices change significantly, requiring budgetary adjustments with approval from the Department of Expenditure.
Solar modules used in the installation must satisfy the Domestic Content Requirement condition, i.e., domestically manufactured modules manufactured from domestically manufactured cells. This is an essential condition for the installation to be eligible for the CFA.
Consumers can opt out of CFA to extend program benefits to more users, enabled through a &#8220;Give It Up&#8221; option on the national portal. Those opting out can use non-domestic modules.
Vendor Selection and Agreement
Consumers select a registered vendor from the national portal and can engage them at mutually agreed rates. There is no tendering process by state DISCOMs, promoting consumer freedom in vendor selection. The portal includes vendor comparison tools to facilitate informed decisions.
Consumers collaborate on system design, components, quality, and financial terms with chosen vendors. They can sign agreements covering these aspects, ensuring mutual understanding and transparency. Although a sample agreement is provided, actual agreements vary case by case.
Consumer Protection
The portal offers comprehensive informational materials, decision-making tools, and vendor/system comparison resources. These empower consumers to make informed choices regarding their rooftop solar investments.
Minimum technical specifications for all vendors installing rooftop solar systems are set under the program. DISCOMs verify compliance during inspections.
To prevent overcharging, the Ministry publishes indicative costs of system components (modules, inverters, etc.) on the portal, ensuring transparency and consumer protection.
Implementation and Metering
As per Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, applications for rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW capacity are accepted without DISCOMs&#8217; technical feasibility approval. Consumers upload required documents until this provision is operationalized.
Vendors install systems, conduct safety checks, and educate consumers on rooftop solar maintenance and safety. After installation completion, consumers update system details on the portal and upload necessary documents.
DISCOMs conduct physical inspections, sign metering agreements, and approve applications on the portal for CFA release. CFA disbursement follows physical verification and portal process completion.
DISCOMs install meters after rooftop installation, and consumers sign appropriate metering agreements per state regulations. Net meters can be provided by DISCOMs or procured from enlisted vendors.
Smart meters are installed through the Advance Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) in areas where RDSS Smart Metering works are ongoing.
In areas pending Smart Metering under RDSS, net meters (preferably Smart Meters with 4G Cellular NIC card) are installed per manufacturers&#8217; specifications listed by the Central Electricity Authority.
Non-Metered Grid Connected Systems are eligible for CFA under the program, subject to approval by Electricity Regulatory Commissions. In such cases, the DISCOM will inspect the installation, ensure the functioning of the reverse power relay protection, and incorporate suitable remarks in the report. However, off-grid connected installations will not be eligible for CFA under the program.
CFA release operates through an e-token system. After application submission on the portal and completion of DISCOM inspection, the e-token is activated with eligible CFA based on installed capacity. Consumers redeem the e-token through their portal profile, and CFA is transferred to their account.
Consumers can opt for financing through the portal, accessing loan products from banks and financial institutions directly via the Jan Samarth portal integration. Standardized low-interest loan products are available for residential rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW, with similar options for larger, non-subsidized segments published on the portal.
All consumer details must be submitted on the portal, including bank account information and necessary proof. Consumers opting for loans include loan account details in their profile, facilitating direct CFA transfer to loan accounts upon e-token redemption.
CFA processing is completed within 15 days of DISCOM approval, ensuring timely financial support for rooftop solar installations.
Vendor Registration
The program mandates that only vendors registered on the national portal can participate, ensuring consumers receive CFA under the program.
Vendors can register at the state level with DISCOMs/state agencies or at national/multi-state/state levels with the National Program Implementation Agency. State governments designate nodal DISCOMs/agencies to streamline vendor registrations across multiple DISCOMs.
Registered vendors maintain profiles on the national portal, detailing rooftop solar system specifications, offered prices, and contact information. Consumers can submit inquiries through the portal, and vendors are expected to respond promptly. Vendor profiles also feature ratings, consumer feedback, and performance data from completed or ongoing projects.
Service Quality 
Vendors commit to providing free repairs and maintenance for rooftop solar projects during the comprehensive maintenance contract period, typically five years from commissioning. They replace or repair underperforming system components and honor warranties provided by original equipment manufacturers. Any system deficiencies affecting CFA disbursal or non-commissioning are promptly rectified by vendors, adhering strictly to program technical specifications.
Implementing agencies such as state DISCOMs, MNRE officials, or designated agencies conduct inspections of ongoing or completed installations to uphold quality standards. Vendors failing to meet standards, delivering non-functional systems due to poor installation quality, or non-compliance with program guidelines face potential penalties, including deregistration and fines, following due notice.
National Portal Functionalities
The portal integrates seamlessly with State DISCOM portals, ensuring a harmonized experience for consumers across all stages of rooftop solar installations. From net metering requests to load sanctions and inspections, the integrated platform streamlines processes and enhances accessibility.
The portal welcomes applications, websites, financing intermediaries, and e-commerce sites through APIs. This integration expands service offerings, providing additional benefits and convenience for citizens.
Augmented with GIS-based services, the portal facilitates informed decision-making and visualization of rooftop solar systems for vendors and consumers. Integration with the PM-Gati Shakti portal optimizes power system planning, leveraging spatial data for enhanced efficiency.
The portal is accessible via apps, chatbots, and WhatsApp. This multi-channel approach ensures broader outreach, facilitating timely communication and updates for all user segments.
The portal also offers value-added services like financial modeling and return period analysis for proposed systems. Integration with banking products simplifies access to loans and digital-only financial products, enhancing consumer convenience.
The national portal receives real-time generation data from connected inverters and smart meters, providing analytical insights to consumers and assisting DISCOMs in data collection. Vendors ensure data access via SIM, dongle, or Wi-Fi, ensuring comprehensive tracking and reporting.
Inspection and Evaluation
The National Program Implementation Agency (NPIA) at the national level and State Implementation Agencies (SIAs) will conduct thorough inspections and evaluations. Inspections occur during the commissioning and post-commissioning to verify compliance with program guidelines and technical specifications.
The NPIA will establish a robust mechanism for independent third-party assessments covering at least 1% of installed rooftop solar systems across India. These assessments ensure an impartial evaluation of installations, focusing on adherence to quality standards and operational efficiency.
SIAs may implement additional mechanisms for post-commissioning inspections on a sampling basis to monitor ongoing system performance. SIAs may also conduct independent third-party assessments to validate further the quality and performance of installed rooftop solar systems.
All vendors registered on the national portal will receive a vendor rating based on criteria such as installation scale, equipment quality, workmanship, and service quality, which will be visible to the consumers on the portal. Consumer visibility of vendor ratings on the national portal enhances transparency, enabling informed decisions regarding vendor selection for rooftop solar installations.
Consumers and vendors can raise grievances through the national portal, which will be channeled for resolution by the SIA/ NPIA. The grievances will be resolved within 30 days. Consumers and vendors will get regular updates regarding the status of grievances through SMS, emails, and other channels of communication.
The grievances may be raised through the national call center, national portal, or the portal app. In each case, a unique tracking ID will be created by the NPIA so that the consumer can track the status of the resolution of the grievance through an online system.
Release of Funds 
Within three months of notification of the guidelines, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MNRE and state or UT energy departments is mandatory. Release of funds under various program components to state or UT entities is contingent upon MoU signing.
Implementation Agencies
Initially, REC will serve as the NPIA, managing the National portal, vendor registrations, and overall program operations.
DISCOMs or energy departments act as SIAs, responsible for ensuring service timelines, monitoring vendor performance, and coordinating with NPIA.
Program Monitoring
A group of ministers will provide guidance and coordinate with states. A steering committee chaired by the cabinet secretary monitors overall program implementation with representation from key ministries.
A mission directorate headed by a senior official not below the rank of Joint Secretary, will oversee program implementation within MNRE and direct NPIA activities. State and district-level coordination committees monitor local implementation, chaired by administrative heads.
Mercom has recently highlighted how implementation issues continue to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/issues-plague-pm-surya-ghar-yojana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plague</a> the rollout of PM Surya Ghar Yojana and how bugs and glitches in the national portal <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/bugs-glitches-national-portal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slow down</a> rooftop solar installations.
Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don&#8217;t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

Government Issues Operational Guidelines for PM Surya Ghar Program

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					</table>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has issued new and simplified central financial assistance (CFA) calculations for rooftop solar systems installed by residential consumers. The ministry also launched a portal to enable transparent processing of the subsidy.
The central government subsidy is available only to those who register on the national <a href="https://solarrooftop.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">portal</a> by December 31, 2022. It will be released after clearance by the inspecting authority (the regional power distribution company).
The national portal is part of the simplification procedure to register the subsidy applications and help track the bank transfer of subsidies to the residential consumers.
The subsidy calculation will now be on the capacity of the rooftop solar system instead of the earlier method <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-lowers-benchmark-costs-rooftop-solar-projects-fy-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">based</a> on the benchmark cost set every year for these consumers.
According to the new procedure, for up to a 3 kW rooftop solar system, a subsidy of ₹14,588 (~$185)/kW will be provided. Previously, according to the benchmark costs calculations set by MNRE, a 1 kW rooftop solar system would be granted a subsidy of ₹18,768 (~$237)/kW.
For consumers who install rooftop solar systems of 3 kW to 10 kW, a subsidy of ₹14,588 (~$185)/kW is applicable for the first 3 kW capacity and ₹7,294 (~$92)/kW for the rest of the capacity.
For systems of 10 kW and above, a fixed subsidy of ₹94,822 (~$1,198) will be provided. Earlier, there was no subsidy for systems above 10 kW.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-39093" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CFA-rooftop-solar-systems-final-png.png" alt="CFA rooftop solar systems final png" width="542" height="217" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CFA-rooftop-solar-systems-final-png.png 542w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CFA-rooftop-solar-systems-final-png-300x120.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 542px) 100vw, 542px" />
The applicable subsidies will be notified each calendar year under the simplified procedure. They will be made available to the beneficiaries who have registered their applications on the portal during the year.
Early this year, MNRE <a href="https://mercomindia.com/residential-consumers-can-soon-order-rooftop-solar-system-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a simplified procedure for residential consumers to install the rooftop solar system through any vendor of their choice under the Rooftop Solar Program. The ministry had said that it would launch a national portal wherein homeowners can apply for rooftop systems, get approvals, and track their progress.
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-online-platform-open-access/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a new procedure for fund flow under Central Sector programs, including grid-connected rooftop solar program (GCRTS) Phase I and II. Under the new procedure, entities must open a zero-balance savings account in the Bank of Maharashtra for the subsidies to be credited.
According to the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/q1-2022-india-rooftop-solar-market-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Rooftop Solar Market Report Q1 2022</a>, India <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-added-over-456-mw-of-rooftop-solar-capacity-in-q1-second-highest-in-a-quarter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> 456 MW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter of 2022, recording a 34% year-over-year growth. The installation numbers were the second highest in any quarter after Q2 2021.

Residential Rooftop Solar Systems Above 10 kW Are Eligible for Subsidy of ₹94,822

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MNRE</a>) recently issued revised guidelines for its waste to energy program.
The new guidelines will supersede the existing guidelines of Waste to Energy Program, which was issued on July 30, 2018. One new addition to the guidelines is the inclusion of municipal solid waste (MSW)-based projects, based on the clarification by the Department of Expenditure.
In August 2018, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-program-energy-from-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that the total CFA of ₹780 million (~$11.37 million) was slated to be released for biogas, bio-CNG, enriched biogas power, and biomass gasifier projects under the program from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The government has now approved a grant of ₹4.8 billion (~$65.43 million) as the central financial assistance (CFA) and has set a target of 257 MW for the remaining period of 2019-20.
Out of the total amount, a sum of ₹4 billion (~$55 million) has been set aside for the municipal solid waste-based projects with a target of 200 MW.
The objective of the program is to set up projects for biogas or bio-CNG, or power from urban, industrial and agricultural waste and captive power and thermal use through gasification in industries; to promote setting up of projects for the recovery of energy from municipal solid wastes for feeding power into the grid and for meeting captive power, thermal and vehicular fuel requirements.
The guidelines have also been revised to promote biomass gasifiers for feeding power into the grid or to meet the captive and thermal needs of rice mills and other industries and villages.
Those projects which are based on bio-methanation of any biodegradable waste will be eligible for the central financial assistance. The CFA will be provided in the form of capital subsidy and grants-in-aid.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18175" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects.png" alt="Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for Different Categories of Waste to Energy &amp; Biomass Gasifier Projects" width="1959" height="1061" srcset="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects.png 1959w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-300x162.png 300w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1024x555.png 1024w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-768x416.png 768w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1536x832.png 1536w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-650x352.png 650w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-624x338.png 624w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-600x325.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1959px) 100vw, 1959px" /></a>
However, the ministry has clearly stated that the biogas generation projects which are based on distillery effluents and projects based on wastes from fossil fuels and waste heat (flue gases), will not be eligible for the CFA.
For combustion-based projects, mixing other waste of renewable nature may be permitted. Mixing fossil fuels will not be allowed in any case, the guidelines noted.
The projects based on biomethanation of municipal solid waste can be taken up only on segregated or uniform biodegradable waste.
Under the municipal solid waste category, power generation projects based on incineration, gasification, pyrolysis or a combination of any new technology will be eligible for the assistance.
According to the new guidelines, the mixing of any waste of renewable nature or biomass may be to the extent of 25% of the total waste used or as per the regulations issued by the state electricity regulatory commissions (SERC) or Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="http://www.cercind.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CERC</a>).
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18176" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1.png" alt="Central Financial Assistance (CFA) - for Different Categories of Waste to Energy &amp; Biomass Gasifier Projects" width="1861" height="985" srcset="https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1.png 1861w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-300x159.png 300w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-1024x542.png 1024w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-768x406.png 768w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-1536x813.png 1536w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-650x344.png 650w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-624x330.png 624w, https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Central-Financial-Assistance-CFA-for-Different-Categories-of-Waste-to-Energy-Biomass-Gasifier-Projects-1-600x318.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1861px) 100vw, 1861px" /></a>
The ministry states that there will be no cap on the capacity of waste to energy projects supported under the program, whereas biogas projects based on agro-based industrial residues of up to 250 kW capacity for power generation and up to 2500 m3 capacity will not be eligible under this program. However, biomass gasifier projects of any capacity will be eligible for the CFA.
As per the new guidelines, projects for generation of power from biogas will be based either on 100% biogas engines or gas or steam turbines with a minimum steam pressure of 42 bar.
Regarding the expansion of the projects, only the enhanced capacity added to the existing projects will be considered for the grant of CFA.
In December 2019, the Union Power Minister R.K.Singh told Parliament that to recover energy from waste and effluent generated from industries, India has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-has-set-up-waste-to-energy-projects-so-far/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">set up</a> 186 waste-to-energy projects for the generation of biogas, bio CNG with a cumulative capacity of 317.03 MW. Out of the 186 projects, five projects are based on municipality solid waste, thus generating a total capacity of 66.5 MW of energy.
Image credit: Korina T. / CC <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BY-SA</a>

MNRE Adds Municipal Solid Waste-Based Projects in Waste to Energy Program Guidelines

The Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) has floated a tender for 45 MW of rooftop solar projects across the state.
The estimated capacity of the project is 50 MW, which can either be increased or decreased as per the availability of the capacity and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) allocation as approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Out of the 45 MW, the expected capacity of this solar project under Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JVVN) is 25 MW, 5 MW is under Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL), and 15 MW is under the Jodhpur Vidyut Viran Nigam Limited (JVVNL).
The estimated project cost for 25 MW is ₹1.35 billion (~$19 million), and it is ₹540 million (~$7.6 million) for 15 MW.
Also, there is a variation in the earnest money deposit (EMD) for the established entrepreneur and start-up firms.
If the bidder is an established entrepreneur, they pay ₹540,000 (~$7,627) as EMD, and for start-up firms, the rate has been fixed at ₹216,000 (~$3,051).
The last date for the submission of bids is November 29, 2019, while the date for the technical bid has been scheduled for December 3, 2019. The time for the completion of work is nine months.
The scope of work includes the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the grid-connected solar PV projects. It also involves entering into supply and comprehensive maintenance contract (CMC) agreement. The CMC will be for a period of five years.
According to the RRECL, established entrepreneurs and start-up firms need to furnish their proposals for 500 kW and 200 kW, respectively. If the bidder is an established entrepreneur, they should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹10 million (~$0.14 million), and the total turnover in the previous three financial years should be ₹30 million ($0.42 million) or more.  However, for start-up firms, no financial turnover limit is mandatory.
In September 2019, Mercom reported that the RRECL <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tender-rooftop-solar-rajasthan-50mw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> a tender for 50 MW of rooftop solar projects under the RESCO model.
Previously, it was reported that the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, on behalf of the Rajasthan government, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/rajasthan-solar-policy-target-achieving-25gw-capacity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launched</a> its Solar Energy Policy 2019. The policy states that Rajasthan aims to deploy 25 GW of solar energy capacity by 2020-21 and 50 GW over the next five to six years to meet the renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) of distribution companies.
The state has an installed solar capacity of 3.5 GW as of Q2 2019, according to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-project-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">India Solar Project Tracker</a>.  A total of 442 MW of solar projects are under development in the state.

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