Haryana released its Solar Power Policy 2016

New Delhi, March 8, 2016: Haryana today released its Solar Power Policy 2016 to promote generation of green and clean power using solar energy and to harness the enormous solar power potential of the State. The Policy aims at creating conducive atmosphere for the investors to invest in the State in the Solar Energy Sector and with the help of this policy it is envisaged to add 4000 MW of solar power by 2022.
This policy was released on the second day of the 2-day Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit in Gurgaon in the presence of Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Haryana Governor Mr. Kaptan Singh Solanki and Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, Union Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit, Haryana Finance Minister, Capt.Abhimanyu, Haryana Health Minister, Mr. Anil Vij, Haryana Woman and Child Development Minister, Mrs. Kavita Jain, Haryana Minister of State for Renewable Energy and Mines and Geology Mr. Nayab Singh Saini, Swami Ram Dev and CII Northern Region Chairman Mr. Shree Kant Somany.
He said that the Policy would provide an enabling environment for fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to add 1,00,000 MW of solar power by 2022.He said that for giving a boost to the solar energy sector, various incentives like industrial status, exemption in change of land use approval, electricity duty, besides free wheeling and banking facility, exemption of T&D, cross subsidy charges have been provided in the policy. The government has also decided to purchase solar power over and above the solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) subject to a limit of 200 MW.
Elaborating further the Policy initiatives, Mr. Ankur Gupta, Principal Secretary, Renewable Energy Department Haryana stated that the policy is to bring significant investment from project developers. Solar Parks will be set up in the State. Also, the installation of Solar Power Plants on canals tops/banks shall be encouraged in the State.
Besides this, the Policy also aims to promote small investors by reserving 20 per cent of the target for the projects of capacity of one MW to two MW.For these projects a price preference of two per cent will be given to those who set up their plants within Haryana.
Sale of power to Haryana Government or to the third party is permitted without levying any charges under the Policy. Due to land constraints the installation of rooftop solar power project has been encouraged by allowing the sale of power to government at the last lowest discovered tariff without tendering. Rooftop Solar Power Plants can be set up without any permission from the building plan sanctioning authority.
Transmission line for evacuation of solar power will also be provided by power utilities free of cost. The space between the installed solar panels could be used for commercial floriculture or horticulture related activities. Under the Policy, the installation of Agricultural Solar Powered Pump sets will be promoted to meet water or irrigation energy needs. The surplus power generation from the solar pump sets might be bought by the Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) at Average Power Purchase Cost (APPC) rate of the year./ (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)