Govt approves scheme to fast-track National Solar Mission

In an effort to fast-track the National Solar Mission, the Government today approved a scheme which will help in availability of funds for carrying out projects under the mission.

In an effort to fast-track the National Solar Mission, the Government today approved a scheme which will help in availability of funds for carrying out projects under the mission.

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The Union Cabinet cleared the Payment Security Scheme to enable financial closure of projects under the mission by extending Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) amounting to Rs 486 crore to the New and Renewable Energy Ministry (MNRE), an official spokesperson said here.

The scheme will help MNRE in the event of defaults in payment by the state utilities to NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), the Central Agency which will purchase solar power from the developers and sell it to the utilities bundled with unallocated thermal power available from NTPC utilities.

The scheme will facilitate setting up 1000 MW grid connected solar power projects to achieve targets of the National Solar Mission, the spokesperson said.

The core component of the Payment Security Scheme is to create Solar Payment Security Account (SPSA) financed from GBS to MNRE to have availability of adequate funds to address all possible payment related risks in case of defaults.

The Payment Security Scheme (PSS) will be implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE.

The National Solar Mission was launched by the Government last year for deployment of 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022.