India plans to construct mega solar power projects

Press Trust of India cited Renewable Energy Minister of State for Piyush Goyal as saying at Lok Sabha that the government is providing various fiscal and financial incentives such as capital and interest subsidy, concessional excise and customs duties to promote generation of renewable energy as well as to encourage investors to invest in new renewable energy sector.

Goyal said during Question Hour: "Ultra mega solar power projects have been planned in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

"The capacity will depend upon availability of land. On an average 1 MW of solar photovoltaic power project generates about 1.6 million units of electricity per annum."

Under Jawaharlal Nehri National Solar Mission, the government sanctioned about INR147.88 crore for installation of 19,449 solar pumps and till date 11,626 pumps have been installed in the country.

Goyal said the government is also planning to establish solar parks in Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal.

"We are also considering to set up green energy corridor to transport solar power from one state to other," he said.