Parliament Question: New initiatives for clean energy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 118 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026 NEW INITIATIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY *118. SHRI TEJVEER SINGH Will the Minister of New and Renewable Energy be pleased to state: (a) the new initiatives undertaken recently in the solar, wind and Green Hydrogen sectors to achieve the national green energy targets; (b) the details of recent policies relating to investment promotion, domestic manufacturing and storage technologies; and (c) the progress made so far in clean energy efficiency and Carbon emission reduction as a result of these initiatives? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, & FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI) (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 118 to be answered on 10.02.2026 regarding ‘New initiatives for clean energy’ asked by Shri Tejveer Singh (a)&(b) The Government has taken several steps and initiatives, including launch of schemes for solar, wind and Green Hydrogen sectors, to promote and accelerate development and deployment of renewable energy in the country to realize the commitment of 500 GW installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030, which include, inter-alia, as given at Annexure. Further, the steps taken by the Government to incentivize domestic manufacturing in the solar photovoltaic sector include, inter-alia, the following: (i) The Government is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, for achieving domestic manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules, with an outlay of Rs. 24,000 crore. Under the Scheme, Letters of Award have been issued for setting up of 48,337 MW of fully/ partially integrated solar PV module manufacturing units. (ii) Under some of the current schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, namely CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM Components B & C, and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, wherein government subsidy is given, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources. (iii) The Government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on import of solar PV cells, solar PV modules, solar inverters, and solar glass. (iv) The Government has exempted Basic Customs Duty on import of goods specified in List 18 of Notification No. 45/2025-Customs dated 24th October 2025, for the manufacturer of solar PV cells and modules. The Government has also taken the following major steps for development of the Energy Storage capacity in the country: (i) Notified Guidelines for Procurement and Utilization of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of Generation, Transmission and Distribution assets, along with Ancillary Services. (ii) Issued National Framework to promote Energy Storage Systems in the country. (iii) Issued Guidelines to promote Pumped Storage Projects (PSP). (iv) Granted 100% waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for PSP for which construction work is awarded on or before June 30, 2028 (v) Granted 100% ISTS charges waiver for co-located BESS projects, commissioned on or before 30th June 2028, with certain conditions. (vi) In March 2024, approved a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for the development of large-scale BESS with an outlay of ₹3,760 crore for the development of 13,220 MWh, at a VGF of ₹27 lakh per MWh. (vii) In June 2025, approved another VGF Scheme for 30 GWh, funded through ₹5,400 crore from the Power System Development Fund (PSDF), at a VGF of ₹18 lakh per MWh. (viii) Earmarked 10 GWh capacity for Grid Scale Stationary Storage applications under the “National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage". (ix) Issued an Advisory on ‘Co-locating Energy Storage Systems with Solar Power Projects to enhance grid stability and cost efficiency’.Furthermore, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is a dedicated Non- Banking Financial Institution providing financial assistance for new and renewable energy projects in the country, including projects related to renewable energy equipment manufacturing and energy storage technologies. (c) India has achieved the target of having 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources during June, 2025, five years ahead of our global commitment. As on 31.12.2025, a total of 266.78 GW non-fossil power capacity has been installed in the country which includes 135.81 GW solar power and 54.51 GW wind power capacity. As per India’s fourth Biennial Updated Report, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2024, India’s emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reduced by 36% between 2005 and 2020. *****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of Rajya Sabha starred Question No. 118 to be answered on 10.02.2026 regarding New Initiatives For Clean Energy The Government of India has taken several steps and initiatives to promote and accelerate development and deployment of renewable energy in the country to realize the commitment of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. These include, inter-alia, 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 Purchase Obligation (RPO) followed by 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. • Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges were waived for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects commissioned by 30th June 2025, for Green Hydrogen Projects till December 2030 and for offshore wind projects till December 2032. • 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.