A Parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up a pilot tidal power project in the country, preferably at a cost-effective location like the Gulf of Kutch. There are three main types of ocean energy - wave, tidal and ocean-thermal. The estimated potential of tidal and wave power in India are 12,455 MW and 41,300 MW respectively while the potential for ocean-thermal has not been estimated to date, it notes.

Strengthening the clauses in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to boost investor confidence, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set up Renewable Industry Facilitation & Promotion Board to facilitate investment in the sector and is getting in touch with trade commissioners/representatives of various countries inviting them to invest in India.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has written to various state governments and various port authorities to identify land parcels of 50-500 acres for setting up renewable energy equipment manufacturing parks to meet both domestic and global demand for silicon ingots and wafers, solar and wind power equipment and ancillary items.

Expression of Interest (EOI) is invited from reputed consultants and experts to undertake an evaluation of Component-C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme. Component C includes solarization of 10 lakh existing grid-connected agricultural pumps of pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.

Expression of Interest (EOI) is invited from reputed consultants and experts to undertake an evaluation of Component-A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme. This includes installation of 10 GW of renewable energy power plants of capacity up to 2 MW on barren and fallow land.

A scheme for 100 per cent solarisation of Modhera in Gujarat is under way. Under the scheme the domestic and agricultural electricity needs of all the households of Modhera are planned to be fulfilled with solar energy, thereby setting up a pilot demonstration project for a village or town running completely on solar power.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has reported that the total solar energy production in the year 2018-19 was 21.365 Billion Units (BUs), as on 31.10.2018.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing a scheme for development of at least 25 solar parks with an aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW. So far around 34 solar parks with an aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW have been approved and are at various stages of development.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is in the forefront of taking the required steps to expedite the implementation of the world’s largest renewable capacity expansion programme targeting clean energy capacity to touch 175 GW by 2022.