The Government of India issues new guidelines for ‘Model Solar Village’ under PM-Surya Ghar, offering $10 million grants to top-performing villages in each district.
On August 9, 2024, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) unveiled the guidelines for the ‘Model Solar Village’ component of the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
This ambitious initiative, part of the broader PM-Surya Ghar scheme approved on February 29, 2024, aims to significantly reduce India’s carbon footprint and enhance solar energy adoption nationwide, offering hope for a greener future.
The ‘Model Solar Village’ scheme targets one village per district to become a model of solar energy efficiency, with an allocated budget of $8 billion. Each selected village will receive $10 million in central financial assistance.
To qualify, villages must have a population exceeding 5,000 (or 2,000 in particular category states). They will be chosen based on their distributed renewable energy (RE) capacity installed within six months of being declared a potential candidate.
The scheme involves a competitive selection process, where District-Level Committees (DLCs) will identify and mobilise eligible villages. The village with the highest installed RE capacity, which includes rooftop solar, small-scale ground-mounted solar under schemes like PM-KUSUM, and other technologies, will win the title of Model Solar Village.
State or UT Renewable Energy Development Agencies will oversee implementation and develop Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for transitioning selected villages to solar power. The DPRs will include solar installations for community and government buildings and other renewable energy technologies.
The financial aid will be released in three phases: 40% upon award of works, 40% after completion and certification, and 20% after six months of operational success. This initiative is expected to significantly boost solar energy use and set a benchmark for sustainable village development across India.
