Parliament Question: Access to Renewable Energy in Remote Areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4303 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 ACCESS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY IN REMOTE AREAS 4303. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken specific measures to increase access to renewable energy particularly solar and wind energy in rural and remote areas of the country; (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise particularly in Maharashtra; (c) the total number of households electrified using renewable sources during the last three years particularly in various districts of Maharashtra including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district; (d) whether the Government proposes to provide subsidized solar panels and micro-grids to unelectrified villages or villages that are facing shortage of power supply in Maharashtra; (e) if so, the details thereof; and (f) the targets set regarding access of renewable energy in rural areas of the country by the end of Financial Year 2026? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK) (a) & (b) The Government of India has taken several measures to increase access to renewable energy all over the country including the state of Maharashtra. The details of these measures, also covering measures providing access through solar and wind energy in rural and remote areas of the country, are given at Annexure. (c) to (e) There is no separate scheme operational in the Ministry of New and renewable Energy (MNRE) for electrification of villages and households using renewable energy in the country. However, for tribal villages covered under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA) there is a provision of electrification of tribal households through solar in case the grid connectivity for these households is not techno-economically feasible. So far, MNRE has not received any proposal from the state of Maharashtra for electrification of such households. In addition, MNRE is implementing PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY), providing central financial assistance for households installing rooftop solar in residential sector. The benefits under the scheme can be availed by applying through online portal www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in and following the due process. (f) There is no specific target set regarding access of renewable energy in rural areas of the country by the end of Financial Year 2026. However, Government has set target of reaching 500 GW of capacity from non-fossil resources in the country by 2030. *****Annexure referred to in reply of parts (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4303 to be answered on 18.03.2026 regarding Access to Renewable Energy in Remote Areas Measures undertaken to increase access to renewable energy in the country include the following: • Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm & Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) projects have been issued. • To boost RE consumption, Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectory has been notified till 2029-30. The RCO which is applicable to all designated consumers under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, will attract penalties on non-compliance. RCO also includes specified quantum of consumption from Decentralized Renewable Energy sources. • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted up to 100 percent under the automatic route. • Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM- KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched. • Scheme for setting up of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects is being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale. • Waiver on ISTS charges for renewable energy projects including green hydrogen projects, with certain timelines and conditions. • Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity has been funded under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power. • Quality Control Orders for Solar Photovoltaic products (i.e., Solar PV Modules, Solar PV Inverters & Storage Battery) and Solar Water Heating systems notified. • Issued National Framework for promoting & developing Energy Storage Systems. • Issued Guidelines for Resource Adequacy Planning Framework for India. • Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 has been issued for net-metering up to five hundred Kilowatt or up to the electrical sanctioned load, whichever is lower. • “National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2023” has been issued.• The Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023 have been notified vide Ministry of External Affairs notification dated 19th December 2023, to regulate the grant of lease of offshore areas for development of offshore wind energy projects. • The Revised Guidelines for installation of prototype wind turbine models issued on 12th June 2025. • Procedure for inclusion/updating Wind Turbine Model in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of Wind Turbines (RLMM) issued on 31st July 2025. The amendment renames RLMM as Approved List of Models and Manufacturers [ALMM (Wind)] and mandates usage of listed components such as Blade, Tower, Generator, Gearbox and Special Bearings (Main, Pitch and Yaw Bearing) along with mandatory relocation of data centres within India and prohibition of real-time data transfer outside India. • The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for ALMM-Wind and ALMM – Wind Turbine Components (ALMM-WTC) issued on 29th October 2025, detailing the end-to-end process for application, verification, factory inspection, component evaluation and model enlistment. • Standard & Labelling (S&L) programs for Solar Photovoltaic modules and Grid-connected Solar Inverters have been launched. • To augment transmission infrastructure needed for steep RE trajectory, transmission plan has been prepared till 2030. • “The Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and related matters) Rules (LPS rules) have been notified. • Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022, notified on 06th June 2022 with objective of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable green energy for all. Green Energy Open Access is allowed to any consumer with contract demand of 100 kW or above through single or multiple single connection aggregating Hundred kW or more located in same electricity division of a distribution licensee. • Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) has been launched to facilitate sale of Renewable Power through exchanges. • Government has issued orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.