MNRE Issues ‘Model Solar Village’ Guidelines Under PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently issued operational guidelines for implementing the ‘Model Solar Village’ component under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

These guidelines are outlined in an office memorandum (OM) dated August 9, 2024. The initiative is part of a broader effort to create decentralised, sustainable energy communities across the country, with a specific focus on empowering rural areas.

The Model Solar Village project comes with an allocation of INR 800 crore, providing central financial assistance of INR 1 crore per village. The government’s objective is to solarize one village per district, transforming entire communities into self-sufficient energy units. By encouraging the adoption of solar power across villages, the initiative aims to reduce dependence on utility companies, while also fostering a sense of ownership and active participation among rural populations.

This holistic approach includes implementing solar-based home lighting systems, water systems, agricultural pumps, and street lights, ensuring that common village infrastructure, such as roads, is also powered by renewable energy.

Eligibility for participation in the Model Solar Village initiative is based on population size, with villages housing more than 5,000 people according to the latest Census being considered. Special provisions are made for states and union territories categorised as special, such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and those in the North East, where villages with populations exceeding 2,000 are also eligible.

The selection process for these villages is competitive, operating under a challenge mode. Initially, villages within each district are encouraged to install distributed solar systems, and the village that achieves the highest cumulative solar capacity at the end of the challenge period will be designated as the Model Solar Village for that district.

The MNRE's guidelines also detail the roles and responsibilities of the implementing agencies. The State Renewable Energy Development Agency will typically oversee the execution of the scheme, although in cases where such an agency is absent, an alternative entity nominated by the state or union territory government will take charge. The guidelines emphasise the importance of capacity building and raising awareness among villagers to ensure the project's success.

The Model Solar Village initiative is a critical component of the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, a larger scheme approved by the Government of India on February 29, 2024. With a total outlay of INR 75,021 crore, the scheme aims to significantly increase solar rooftop capacity across India, empowering residential households to generate their own electricity.

The overall scheme, including the Model Solar Village component, is set to be implemented until FY 2026-27. The detailed operational guidelines can be accessed in the office memorandum released by MNRE.