Introduction:

 The Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects scheme was notified by MNRE on December 2014, and scheme was enhanced in 2017.

 MNRE, through this Scheme, plans to set up at least 50 Solar Parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW and above, thereby targeting around 40 GW of solar power installed capacity.

Salient Features of the Scheme:

1.  The solar park is concentrated zone of development of solar power generation projects and provides developers an area that is well characterized, with proper infrastructure and access to amenities and where the risk of the projects can be minimized. Solar Park will also facilitate developers by reducing the number of required approvals. Assured availability of land and transmission infrastructure are the major benefits of the Solar Park Scheme.
2. The scheme envisages supporting the States/UTs in setting up solar parks at various locations in the country with a view to create required infrastructure for setting up of solar power projects. The solar parks provide suitable developed land with all clearances, transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc. The scheme facilitates and speed up installation of grid connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale.
3. At the State level, the solar parks will enable the States to bring in significant investment from project developers, meet its Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) mandate and provide employment opportunities to local population. Further, the Solar Park will also help in avoiding procurement of expensive fossil fuels to power conventional power plants.
4. The solar park will provide a huge impetus to solar energy generation by acting as a flagship demonstration facility to encourage project developers and investors, prompting additional projects of similar nature, triggering economies of scale for cost-reductions, technical improvements and achieving large scale reductions in GHG emissions.
5. All the States and Union Territories are eligible for getting benefit under the scheme.

Under the scheme, the State/UT Government nominates the SPPD and sends a proposal to MNRE for solar park approval.

(For more details on the latest scheme provisions, please visit the MNRE official website: https://mnre.gov.in/en/development-of-solar-parks-and-ultra-mega-solar-power-projects/ )

Total No of Solar Parks	55
Total Capacity of Parks Allocated	39,958 MW