By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 19, 2021: PRIME Minister Mr Narendra Modi on Thursday noted that India has added 139 GW to its grid while its renewable energy capacity has grown more than two-and-a-half times in the past six years and the country now has surplus power.

As he spoke about the implementation of Budget 2021-22 provisions in the power and renewable energy sector, Mr Modi said, " With regard to capacity reinforcement, India has become a power surplus country from power deficit country ."

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules will see 10,000 MW of capacity being created with investments of more than Rs. 14,000 crore, noted Mr Modi. Over the next 10 year, the demand for solar cells is expected to increase 12 times more than the country's manufacturing capacity.

This will increase demand for domestic producers for locally produced materials and bring in an influx of cash.

"The government estimates that in the coming five years, demand worth Rs. 17,500 crore will be generated. This demand will go a long way in giving impetus to the domestic manufacturing setup in the country," said the PM.

He said the government has indicated commitment of additional capital infusion worth Rs. 1000 crore in Solar Energy Corporation of India and Rs. 1,500 crore in the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency to invest in innovative projects and develop capacity.

He further added that India has achieved capacity of around 4 GW by rooftop solar panels with around 2.5 GW to be added soon. The government plans to produce 40 GW rooftop solar energy in the coming one-and-a-half years.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the efforts to improve ease of doing business in the sector with reforms in the regulatory and process framework, especially for Distribution Corporations (DISCOMS).

"The government has changed how it views the power sector. All the reforms enacted are treating power as a separate sector and not as part of the industrial sector," said Mr Modi.

The Centre will remove entry obstacles and the free the section from licences. Moreover, consumers will be given the power to choose their supplier as per performance.

"Throughout the country, we are taking a look at electricity supply and the distribution network to allay the problems with them. For this, a DISCOM-related policy and regulatory framework is in the works," he said.

Efforts are underway for prepaid smart metre, feeder separation and system upgradation, the Prime Minister informed.

Energy sector experts and stakeholders, representatives of industries and DISCOMS, along with Mr RK Singh, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy were also present in the webinar.