Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022

• 17 Nov 2022

Why In News?

On November 16, 2022, the Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022, in which many important provisions have been made to promote solar energy. This policy will be applicable for five years.

Key Points

• Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementation of Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022.
• Under this policy, government undertakings will be given gram panchayat and revenue land at the rate of Re 1 per acre per year for setting up solar power plants. For the establishment of solar park in the private sector, it will be given on lease for 30 years at the rate of Rs 15,000 per acre per year.
• The state government has set a target of producing 22 thousand MW electricity from solar energy in the next five years. A target has been set to generate 14,000 MW from Solar Park, 4500 MW from Solar Rooftop Residential, 1500 MW from Solar Rooftop Non-Residential and 2000 MW under PM Kusum Yojana.
• The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has also approved central financial assistance for installation of grid connected solar system with net metering system at private residences, besides allowing state grant of Rs 15,000 per kilowatt, maximum Rs 30,000 per consumer from the state government.
• Solar rooftops with net metering have been allowed on buildings of government and educational institutions. Under the PM Kusum Yojana, a provision of subsidy has also been made for farmers.
• The Cabinet also gave its nod to 10 percent exemption from electricity duty along with 10 percent exemption in stamp duty payable to land purchased or leased for setting up solar power units.
• It has been decided to exempt solar plants from obtaining environmental clearance, grid connected solar PV projects from obtaining consent and NOC for installation and operation under pollution control rules.
• Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementation of this policy.
• According to this policy, solar parks set up with storage systems of 5 MW or more capacity will be provided subsidy at the rate of Rs 2.5 crore per MW.
• Under this policy, Ayodhya city will be developed as a model solar city. Apart from this, 16 municipal corporations of the state and Noida will also be developed as solar cities.
• Under this, a minimum of 10 percent of the estimated total demand of conventional energy of the concerned city will be met from solar power plants installed in the city area.
• For this, according to the 2011 census of the Municipal Corporation area, financial assistance will be given by the State Government to the Municipal Corporations/Noida City for setting up solar power plants at the rate of Rs.100 per person.
• Additional manpower will be created for the maintenance of solar power plants. For this, 30,000 youths will be given training in maintenance of solar power plants and they will be named as 'Surya Mitra'. In this way employment will also be created for these 'Surya Mitras'.