In its monthly summary MNRE has notified that a total of 1463.31 MW of RE capacity was added during the month of March 2021 taking the cumulative installed RE capacity to 94.43 GW. This includes 40.09 GW of Solar; 39.24 GW of Wind; 10.31 GW of Bio-power and 4.79 GW of Small Hydro capacity.
Projects of 49.7 GW capacity are at various stages of implementation and projects of 25.91 GW are under various stages of bidding.
An expenditure of Rs 3096.73 crore has been incurred up to March 31, 2021, which is around 86.24 percent of the total Revised Estimate (RE) for the Ministry for the year 2020-21.
The other important development notified in the summary are :
- The Ministry vide order dated March 08, 2021, circulated the Draft Policy Framework for developing and promoting Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) Livelihood Applications for comments of stakeholders.
- In order to ensure the reliability of solar PV modules being deployed in India, MNRE had established a mechanism of enlistment of solar PV cells and modules (Approved list of Models and Manufacturers or ALMM) after a thorough inspection of the manufacturing facilities. The ALMM Order was issued on January 2, 2019. And the first list under this Order, List-I for models and manufacturers of modules, was published on March 10, 2021.
- In order to give further impetus to domestic manufacturing, the Government had agreed to impose Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on the import of solar PV cells and solar PV modules, with effect from April 1, 2022. On March 9, 2021, the ministry had announced a 25 percent BCD on solar PV cells and 40 percent duty on solar modules without grandfathering of bid-out projects.
- The Ministry vide its order dated March 30, 2021, issued a clarification regarding Time Extension in Scheduled Commissioning Date of Renewable Energy (RE) Projects considering the disruption due to COVID-19. It was clarified that the total extension provided by implementing agencies on account of COVID-19 should in no case be more than 6 months including the 5-month blanket extension given earlier by this Ministry vide its O.M. of August 13, 2020. In case an implementing agency feels that there is a requirement to give an extension beyond 6 months, it shall make a reference for consideration of this Ministry with due justification and supporting documents.
- The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had issued the Letters of Award (LoA) for 1200 MW ISTS-connected wind power projects on March 19, 2021.
