MNRE working on a policy for roof-top solar units

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is working on a special policy for roof-top solar units, Mr Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MNRE, said today.

Speaking at Intersolar India here, a conference of the solar industry, and also at a press conference later, Mr Kapoor said that the government is “working on several options”. To aid policy formulation, a “brainstorming meeting” of all the electricity distribution companies (discoms) will take place in New Delhi on December 20.

The discussion would revolve around why, even with a 30 per cent capital subsidy, the ‘roof-top solar’ has not taken off in India.

“We will come up with something very special for roof-tops,” Mr Kapoor said. Today, the economics works out very well. With 30 per cent subsidy (on the cost of equipment), the cost of generation would work out to Rs 7, he said.