Government has set up an autonomous Institute namely “National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)” under the administrative control of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) by converting the existing Solar Energy Centre (SEC) with its headquarters and research facilities atGwalpahari Village, Distt. Gurgaon (Haryana).
The NISE has been registered under the Haryana Societies Registration Act on 24th October, 2013.
The main objective of setting up the National Institute would be to assist the Ministry and function as the apex National Centre for research and technology development and related activities in the area of solar energy technologies in the country.
The institute would also perform all related tasks to achieve this objective to coordinate various S&T related tasks under the Mission and other activities as decided by the Government from time to time.
Its affairs will be managed by a Governing Council to be headed by Secretary, MNRE and an Executive Committee headed by Director General.
The steps taken by the Government to support and accelerate the process of induction of the latest solar energy technologies are as under:
i. Government of India has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) on 11th January, 2010. The Mission targets deployment of 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022 in three phases.
ii. Grant of subsidy on off-grid applications.
iii. Provision for renewable purchase obligation for solar has been made in the National Tariff Policy.
iv. Concessional Import duty/Excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power plants, accelerated depreciation and tax holiday.
v. Generation based incentive and facility for bundled power for Grid connected Solar Power Projects through various interventions announced from time to time.
vi. Awareness programmes such as exhibitions, training workshops etc. are being conducted.
vii. Several R&D efforts have been initiated for new technologies and improvement in efficiency.
Private Solar Power Developers are free to choose the technology based on their financial position and other related factors.
This information was given by the Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
