Year End Review, 2024 | Ministry of New & Renewable Energy | Current Affairs

About the Ministry

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy.
The broad aim of the Ministry is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy to supplement the energy requirements of the country.
It also Facilitate research, design, development, manufacture, and deployment of new and renewable energy for transportation, portable and stationary applications in rural, urban, industrial and commercial sectors.

Schemes and Initiatives

PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The scheme targets installation of rooftop solar in one crore households.
It provides up to 300 units free electricity monthly and offers subsidies ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 78,000 per household.

The mission aims to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export.
Key achievements include:
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission has an outlay of Rs 600 crore for FY 2024-25.
- The mission aims for a Green Hydrogen production capacity by 2030, potentially attracting over Rs 8 lakh crore in investments.
- This investment is expected to create 6, 00,000 jobs by 2030.
- The mission could reduce fossil fuel imports by Rs 1 lakh crore and cut carbon emissions by 5 MMT by 2030.

Aim – To support the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and the production of Green Hydrogen.

Renewable Energy Investment Meet & Expo (RE-INVEST)

RE-INVEST is a GoI’s flagship event to showcase India’s RE potential to the world & to invite investment in the sector by initiating multilateral dialogue.
MNRE organized the 4^th Global Renewable Energy Summit at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Initiatives and schemes for Solar Energy

Solar Parks And Battery Storage – Lakshadweep's first on-grid solar plant inaugurated in Kavaratti.
India's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was commissioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.

MNRE is implementing the New Solar Power Scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Habitations under the PM JANMAN) to electrify un-electrified PVTG households.
The households are identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, by providing off-grid solar systems where grid electricity is unavailable and not techno-economically feasible.

Under the scheme, over 2.95 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps installed.
Under Components B and C of PM- KUSUM, 30% Central Financial Assistance (CFA) provided for installing standalone agriculture pumps and solarizing grid-connected pumps.
- 50% CFA provided for North Eastern/Hilly regions/Islands.

Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme

Objective – To achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 MW from Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects.
Salient Features – Central Financial Assistance (CFA)/Subsidy is provided to the residential electricity consumers under Component-A and incentives are provided to DISCOMs under Component-B of this programme.