In news– The Prime Minister has launched Power Sector’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme during the Grand Finale marking the culmination of ‘Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya – Power @2047.
About the scheme-
- It is aimed at improving the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of Distribution Companies. With an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 crore over a period of five years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
- It also aims to reduce the AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses to pan-India levels of 12 per cent to 15 per cent and ACS-ARR (Average Cost of Supply – Average Revenue Realized) gap to zero by 2024-25 by improving the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all state-sector DISCOMs and power departments.
- The scheme seeks to provide financial assistance to DISCOMs for modernization and strengthening of distribution infrastructure, aiming at improvement of the reliability and quality of supply to end consumers.
- It is also proposed to provide 25 crore Smart Prepaid meters to consumers all over the country.
- DISCOMs have to score a minimum of 60% of marks and clear a minimum bar in respect to certain parameters to be eligible for funding against the Scheme in that year.
Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya – Power @ 2047-
As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence, the Ministry of Power and New & Renewable Energy are organising ‘Bijli Mahotsav’ across all districts of India from 25th to 31st July 2022 under the umbrella of Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya – Power @ 2047 through active public participation and driven by the collaboration of the state and the Central Governments. Key achievements of the Power Sector are being highlighted through these events.
Note:
Following are the milestones achieved by solar projects in India-
- The Ramagundam project is India’s largest floating solar PV project with 4.5 lakh ‘Made in India’ solar PV modules.
- Kayamkulam project is the second largest floating solar PV project consisting of 3 lakh ‘Made in India’ solar PV panels floating on water.
- The 735 MW Solar PV Project at Nokh, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is India’s largest Domestic Content Requirement based Solar project with 1000 MWp at a single location, deploying high-wattage bifacial PV Modules with a tracker system.
- The Green Hydrogen Mobility Project at Leh, Ladakh is a pilot project and aims for five Fuel Cell Buses to be run in and around Leh. This pilot project would be the first deployment of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles for public use in India.
- The Green Hydrogen Blending Pilot Project at NTPC Kawas Township will be India’s first Green Hydrogen Blending Project helping in reducing the usage of natural gas.
National Portal for Rooftop solar-
- The PM also launched the national portal for Rooftop solar, which will enable online tracking of the process of installation of rooftop solar plants, starting from registering the applications to release of subsidy in residential consumers’ (‘beneficiaries’) bank account after installation and inspection of the plant.
- With the launch of this Portal, it will be very simple for a residential consumer to apply and get the rooftop solar installed.
- The consumers will have the choice to select any vendor registered with the local distribution company, solar modules of equality and efficiency, solar inverter and other balance of plants and equipment.
- The process of registration of vendors with the distribution company has been made simple, they have to just submit a declaration along with a PBG amount of Rs. 2.5 lakh and they will get registered.
- These vendors will also get access to provide their information and rates on the National Portal so that any consumer willing to install rooftop solar can contact them and get the rooftop solar installed through mutually agreed rates.
- The process of registration of the application to release the subsidy in the bank account of the consumer can be tracked online on the Portal.
- With this portal, the consumer can get the rooftop solar system installed and submit the details on the online Portal for inspection and installation of net-meter.
- To protect the interest of consumers, apart from mandating the vendors to get registered at the Discom, the vendor also has to maintain the rooftop solar system for at least 5 years.
- In the Simplified Procedure, Discoms need not invite tender, discover rates and empanel vendors.
- Also the vendors need not to wait for the release of subsidy from the Ministry rather they can get the full amount from the consumer as the consumer will be getting subsidy directly into his bank account.
- This simplification will fasten the installation of rooftop solar in the country and the targeted 4,000 MW capacity under the Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II would be achieved.
Source: PIB
