Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s New Solar Guidelines
The Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy has issued guidelines for implementing ‘Central Financial Assistance’
(CFA) and a ‘Payment Security Mechanism’ for rooftop solar installations.
Key Features of the Guidelines:
- Models for Rooftop Solar Installation:
- Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) Model: In this model, a private company installs and
maintains the solar plant while the consumer pays for the energy used.
Excess power can be sold to DISCOM under a Power Purchase Agreement.
- Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model: DISCOM or state entities install solar systems for
households.
- Central Financial Assistance (CFA):
- Available to 1 crore residential consumers for rooftop
solar installations.
- Eligibility: RTS plants must be grid-connected and
associated with a residential power connection. Solar modules must be
domestically manufactured.
- For the ULA Model, the CFA is limited to installations
of up to 3 kW.
- Payment Security Mechanism:
- A Rs 100 crore corpus has been established to ensure
timely payments to RESCO-based models, managed by the National Project
Implementation Agency.
Hydrogen-Powered Train Engine by
Indian Railways
Indian Railways is set to test its
first hydrogen-powered train engine on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. The
indigenous engine, which produces 1,200 horsepower, marks India’s entry into a
select group of countries (Germany, France, Sweden, and China) that have
hydrogen-powered train engines.
Hydrogen as a Clean Fuel:
- Types of Hydrogen:
- Blue Hydrogen:
Produced from natural gas, with carbon dioxide as a by-product.
- Grey Hydrogen:
Also produced from natural gas via steam methane reforming, releasing
CO2.
- Green Hydrogen:
Produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources.
- Pink Hydrogen:
Generated through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.
- Advantages of Hydrogen:
- Abundant: It makes up 75% of the mass of the universe.
- Clean: Only water is produced as a by-product in fuel
cells.
- High Efficiency: More efficient compared to other
energy sources.
- Challenges:
- High cost, complex storage and transportation, and
safety concerns (flammability).
Watershed Development in PMKSY 2.0
The Watershed Development Component
(WDC) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) aims to improve
land quality, water conservation, and vegetation. The program, implemented by
the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural
Development, is operational in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.
Key Features of WDC-PMKSY 2.0:
- Area Coverage:
Approx. 5,000 hectares per project (smaller in hilly regions).
- Focus Areas:
- Biological Methods:
A shift from mechanical treatments to biological approaches.
- Rainwater Management: Emphasizing efficient rainwater use to enhance
productivity.
- Economic Diversification: Promoting integrated farming systems for better
income and risk management.
- WDC-PMKSY 2.0 Goals:
Improve climate resilience, restore degraded land, and support sustainable
farming practices by addressing soil erosion, water scarcity, and land
degradation.
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