The scheme for development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects has been rolled out by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy 12-12-2014. The Scheme has been conceived on the lines of the “Charanka Solar Park” in Gujarat which is a first-of-its-kind large scale Solar Park in India with contiguous developed land and transmission connectivity.

This scheme envisages supporting the States in setting up solar parks at various locations in the country with a view to create required infrastructure for setting up of Solar Power Projects. The solar parks will provide SUITABLE developed land with all clearances, transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc. This scheme will facilitate and speed up installation of grid connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale. All the States and Union Territories are eligible for benefitting under the scheme.

Salient Features:

• It is proposed to set up at least 25 Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects targeting over 20,000 MW of solar power installed CAPACITY within a span of 5 years starting from 2014-15.
• The capacity of the Solar Parks shall be 500 MW and above. However, smaller parks may be considered in Himalayan Region & other hilly States where contiguous land may be difficult to acquire in view of difficult terrain and in States where there is acute shortage of non-agricultural land. 
• The solar parks will be developed in collaboration with the State Governments and their agencies. The choice of implementing agency for developing and maintaining the park is left to the State Government.
• The implementing agency will be sanctioned a grant of upto Rs.25 Lakhs/Park for preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Solar Park.
• Thereafter, application may be made by the implementing agency to Solar Energy CORPORATION of India (SECI) for the grant of up to Rs. 20 lakhs/MW or 30% of the project cost including Grid-connectivity cost, whichever is lower. The approved grant will be released by SECI as per milestones prescribed in the scheme.
• Subsequently, in-principle approval was accorded to 16 Solar Parks of aggregate capacity of 12120 MW planned to be set up in 10 States (A.P, Gujarat, Rajasthan, M.P, Telangana, Punjab, U.P, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and Karnataka). Grant of Rs. 141.50 Cr. has been released to Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) by 31st December, 2014.
• M/s AP Solar Power Corporation Pvt. Ltd. a JV amongst SECI, AP Genco and NREDCAP, is setting up a Solar Power Park of capacity 1500 MW at Anantpur & Kadapa. M/s NTPC has planned to set up 1000 MW in the said Solar Park.

The scheme for development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects has been rolled out by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy 12-12-2014. The Scheme has been conceived on the lines of the “Charanka Solar Park” in Gujarat which is a first-of-its-kind large scale Solar Park in India with contiguous developed land and transmission connectivity.

This scheme envisages supporting the States in setting up solar parks at various locations in the country with a view to create required infrastructure for setting up of Solar Power Projects. The solar parks will provide suitable developed land with all clearances, transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc. This scheme will facilitate and speed up installation of grid connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale. All the States and Union Territories are eligible for benefitting under the scheme.

Salient Features: