Programmes

National Bio Energy Programme 

The National Bioenergy Programme is being implemented for a period of 1.04.2021 to 31.03.2026 with the outlay of Rs. 858 Crore under Phase-I. The National Bioenergy Programme will comprise of the following sub-schemes:

• Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) - to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects).
• Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) - based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.
• Biogas Programme - to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas

For the complete scheme guidelines, click here.

Biogas programme

The programme was started by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy from 2005-06 (4th January 2006) with a view to promote biogas based power generation, especially in the small capacity range (3 kW to 250 kW), based on the availability of large quantity of animal wastes and wastes from forestry, rural based industries (agro / food processing), kitchen wastes, etc.

The program, since 2021, is part of the umbrella scheme National Bio Energy Programme.  For popularization of biogas sector, this scheme covers setting up of small and medium biogas plants ranging from 1M³ to 2500 M³ biogas generation per day for individual user, farmers, poultry, goshalas, slaughter house, diaries/ co-operatives, industries/organizations and others.

Implementation agency

The following two implementation models under the Biogas Programme shall be eligible for CFA/Incentive.

• Implementation through State PIAs: The biogas programme will be implemented by the designated Programme Implementing Agency (PIA) of the State/ Union Territory I Khadi Village and Industry Commission (KVIC), Mumbai, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Anand/Biogas Development and Training Centres (BDTC).
• Implementation through Financial Institutions: Financing Organizations/ Institutions / Banks/ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), NABARD/ RBI approved Financial Institutions may also implement the Biogas Programme in consultation with PIAs

Central Financial Assistance (CFA)

For more information, click here.

Waste to Energy Programme under the Umbrella scheme of National Bioenergy Programme 

Also called as the Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes/Residue, it supports the setting up of Waste to Energy projects for generation of Biogas/ BioCNG/ Power/ producer or syngas from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes/residues.

The programme provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to project developers and service charges to implementing/inspection agencies in respect of successful commissioning of Waste to Energy plants for generation of Biogas, Bio-CNG/enriched Biogas/Compressed Biogas, Power/ generation of producer or syngas.

To view the guidelines for the programme, click here.

Biomass Programme under the Umbrella scheme of National Bioenergy Programme

“Scheme to Support Promotion of Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Biomass (Non-Bagasse) Based Cogeneration in Industries in the Country may also be referred as “Biomass Programme”.

The objective of the Biomass Programme is to support setting up of Biomass Briquette/Pellet manufacturing plants and to support Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration projects in Industries in the country. The broader objectives of the scheme are to reduce stubble burning by utilizing surplus agricultural residue, to provide additional source of income to farmers through sale of surplus agro residue and to enable better environmental practices and reduce pollution.

The programme provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA to project developers and service charges to implementing agency and inspection agencies in respect of setting up of Briquette / Pellet manufacturing plants and Biomass (non- bagasse) cogeneration projects in industries.

For the complete scheme guidelines, click here.

Solar program

Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects

Solar power projects can be set up anywhere in the country, however the scattering of solar power projects leads to higher project cost per MW and higher transmission losses. Individual projects of smaller capacity incur significant expenses in site development, drawing separate transmission lines to nearest substation, procuring water and in creation of other necessary infrastructure. It also takes a long time for project developers to acquire land, get change of land use and various permissions, etc. which delays the project. To overcome these challenges, the scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects” was rolled out in December, 2014 with an objective to facilitate the solar project developers to set up projects in a plug and play model.

The scheme envisages supporting the States/UTs 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 provide suitable developed land with all clearances, transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc. The scheme facilitates and speed up installation of grid connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale.

Financial Provisions

Under the scheme, the Ministry provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of up to Rs. 25 lakh per solar park for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). Beside this, CFA of up to Rs. 20.00 lakh per MW or 30% of the project cost, including Grid-connectivity cost, whichever is lower, is also provided on achieving the milestones prescribed in the scheme.

Further, the CFA of Rs. 20 Lakh /MW is apportioned on 60:40 basis towards development of internal infrastructure of solar park to the SPPD and for development of external transmission system to Central Transmission Utility (CTU)/ State Transmission Utility (STU) respectively i.e. Rs. 12 lakh per MW or 30% of the project cost whichever is lower is provided to the SPPDs towards development of internal infrastructures if the solar parks and Rs. 8 lakh per MW or 30% of the project cost whichever is lower is provided to the CTU or STU as the case may be towards development of external transmission system.

The above CFA pattern is applicable only for Mode 1 to Mode-5. Mode-6 is without CFA by private entrepreneurs. Further, under Mode-7 the entire CFA of Rs. 20 Lakh/MW is only for External Transmission Infrastructure System.

Source: MNRE

Grid connected Solar Rooftop Programme

For achieving cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects by the year 2022.

Component A: Central Financial Assistance (CFA)* to Residential sector - 4 GW

• CFA @ 40% for capacity up to 3 kWp
• CFA @ 20% for capacity beyond 3 kWp and up to 10 kWp
• CFA @ 20% for GHS/RWA capacity up to 500 kWp (limited to 10 kWp per house and total upto 500 kWp)

Domestic manufactured modules and Solar cells to be used* CFA shall be on % of benchmark cost of MNRE for the state/ UT or lowest of the costs discovered in the tenders for that state/ UT in that year, whichever is lowerImplementing agency : Power Distributing companies (DISCOMs)

Component B: Incentives to DISCOMs – for initial 18 GW Capacity

Progressive incentive for Discoms for achievements above baseline (the cumulative RTS capacity installed at the end of previous financial year).

• No incentives for capacity addition up to 10%
• 5% incentives for addition beyond 10% and up to 15%
• 10% incentives for addition beyond 15%

PM KUSUM programme

The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crore including service charges to the implementing agencies.

The Scheme consists of three components:

• Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
• Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
• Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.

Components A and C of the Scheme were implemented in Pilot mode till 31st December 2019.

Component B

Individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP.

CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar Agriculture pump will be provided. The State Government will give a subsidy of 30%; and the remaining 40% will be provided by the farmer. Bank finance may be made available for farmer's contribution, so that farmer has to initially pay only 10% of the cost and remaining up to 30% of the cost as loan.

In North Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, CFA of 50% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar pump will be provided. The State Government will give a subsidy of 30%; and the remaining 20% will be provided by the farmer. Bank finance may be made available for farmer's contribution, so that farmer has to initially pay only 10% of the cost and remaining up to 10% of the cost as loan.

For Component B, potential beneficiaries may contact DISCOMs/ Agricultural Department/ Minor Irrigation Department/ any other Department designated by State Government who are the implementing agencies.

Source : MNRE

Past programmes

Solar Lantern Programme

The 7 million solar study lamps was implemented with the objective to distribute solar lamps to students in identified block of the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh @ Rs. 100/- per lamp and balance cost of lamp through financial support from MNRE.

The Scheme has been closed as on 30.09.2019 .

Akshay Urja Shops

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India has been promoting the establishment of Aditya Solar Shops in major cities. These shops were called as “Akshay Urja Shops” with a view to cover sales and service of all renewable energy devices and systems including solar energy products. The shops carry out the following functions:-

• Sale of different renewable energy and energy efficient devices
• Repair and servicing of renewable energy devices
• Dissemination of information on renewable energy devices/ systems and
• Facilitate individuals/companies to go in for renewable energy devices.

The programme has been closed.

Unnat Chulha Abhiyan (UCA)

The programme was implemented to develop and deploy improved biomass cook-stoves for providing cleaner cooking energy solutions in rural, semi-urban and urban areas using biomass as fuel for cooking. It aimed to mitigate drudgery of women and children using traditional chulha for cooking and climate change by reducing the black carbon and other emissions resulting from burning biomass for cooking.

The Programme was implemented until end of 12th 5 year Plan

Scheme on Energy Efficient Solar/ Green Buildings for implementation during the 12th Five year Plan period

The main objective of the scheme is to promote the widespread construction of energy efficient solar/green buildings in the country through a combination of financial and promotional incentives, and other support measures so as to save a substantial amount of electricity and other fossil fuels apart from having peak load shavings incities and towns.

The Programme was implemented until end of 12th 5 year Plan.

Related resources

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy