The Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) envisages installation of grid-connected solar PV rooftop projects with aggregate capacity of 600 MW in different categories across the State, officials informed.

Notably, CREDA is targetting installation of Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar PV Projects across the State. The generated solar power may be utilized for captive application and the surplus power will be fed to the grid, officials informed.

The aim is to reduce the fossil fuel-based electricity load on the main grid and make building self-sustainable from the point of electricity to the extent possible.

Moreover, Chhattisgarh Government has been given a target of creating 2000 ‘Suryamitras’ by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy who could be trained for seeking employment in the solar energy sector during the next five years, officials informed.

The Surya Mitra Skill Development Program (SSDP) aims to develop the skills of youth, considering the opportunities for employment in the growing Solar Energy Power Project’s installation, operation and maintenance in India and abroad.

The SSDP is also designed to prepare the candidates to become new entrepreneurs in Solar Energy sector. This is a 600 hours residential skill development program.

Notably, Chhattisgarh commissioned grid-connected solar projects with cumulative capacity of 128.91 MW as on October 31, 2017, according to a status report of Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Chhattisgarh is among 15 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal which has come out with Solar Policy supporting grid-connected rooftop systems, the Central Government has informed.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has included renewable energy projects under priority sector lending for which bank loans up to a limit of Rs 15 crore to borrowers will be available for renewable energy projects including grid-connected solar rooftop and ground-mounted systems. For individual households, the loan limit is Rs 10 lakh per borrower, it informed.

Department of Financial Services has advised all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to provide loans for grid-connected rooftop solar systems as home loan/ home improvement loan.