Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore families will get rooftop solar power systems.

“My first decision after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’ with the target of installing rooftop solar systems in one crore houses,” PM Modi said on Twitter.

What is Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana has been launched with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses.

This scheme will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class, but will also make India self-reliant in the energy sector.

However, no information has been given regarding any timeline for such installations. The Prime Minister shared photos of his meeting with officials of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, including Union Minister RK Singh and Secretary Bhupinder Bhalla.

A report in The Hindu, citing information presented in the Lok Sabha, said that by July, 2023, only 2.2 GW worth of rooftop installation has been installed in Indian households.

Why did PM Modi announce this scheme?

India is the world’s third largest electricity producer, with a total installed capacity of 356 GW. Of this, about 64 percent comes from thermal energy (54.60 percent from coal, 7 percent from gas, and 0.2 percent from diesel), 2 percent from nuclear power, 13 percent from large hydro, and 13 percent from renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass). 21.8 percent, wastage of energy).

The government plans to change this trend, with plans to achieve a total of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, of which at least 280 GW will come from solar power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country aims to generate 50% of its energy needs through non-fossil fuels by the end of this decade.

The government also intends to increase EV sales in India to capture 30 per cent of private cars, 70 per cent of commercial vehicles and 80 per cent of two- and three-wheeler markets by 2030. PM Modi also announced at COP26 that India will become carbon neutral by 2070.

previous solar plans

In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Program to expand rooftop solar installed capacity in the residential sector by providing central financial assistance and incentives to distribution companies.

According to The Indian Express, the program aims to increase rooftop solar installed capacity to 40 GW by 2026 and is currently in its second phase.

India’s efforts for green energy

India, with a population of more than 1.4 billion, is at the frontline of climate change mitigation. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India will need to expand its electricity system over the next two decades to meet growing energy demands while also dealing with toxic air quality in major cities.

India’s green energy ambitions are an ambitious goal to show the world that we are moving in the right direction. By June 2023, India has increased its installed renewable energy capacity to 176.49 GW as compared to 115.94 GW in March, 2018.