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<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="http://mnre.gov.in/">MNRE</a>) has notified the new benchmark cost for off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and rooftop solar projects for the financial year (FY) 2018-19.</p>
<p>The new benchmark costs will apply to all the implementing agencies which are involved in developing projects awarded under the off-grid and decentralized solar program as well as those developing rooftop solar and small solar projects but have not issued the work order/LoA to date.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spp.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10370" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spp.png" alt="MNRE Issues Benchmark Cost for Off-Grid and Distributed Solar Generation" width="434" height="183" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spp.png 434w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spp-300x126.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 434px) 100vw, 434px" /></a></p>
<p>For grid-connected rooftop solar projects of capacity more than 1 kW and up to 10 kW, MNRE has fixed benchmark cost at ₹60 (~$0.878)/Wp. The new benchmark cost for this category is ₹10 (~$0.1464)/Wp lower than the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/new-benchmark-costs-set-rooftop-small-scale-solar-india/">previous benchmark cost</a> of ₹70 (~$1.0251)/Wp for rooftop solar PV projects up to 10 kW.</p>
<p>For grid-connected rooftop solar projects of capacity more than 10 kW and up to 100 kW, the benchmark cost has been fixed at ₹55 (~$0.805)/Wp. The new benchmark cost is ₹10 (~$0.1464)/Wp lower than the previous benchmark cost of ₹65 (~$0.951)/Wp for this category.</p>
<p>Benchmark cost for grid-connected rooftop solar PV projects of capacity above 100 kW and up to 500 kW has been fixed at ₹53 (~$0.776)/Wp. The new benchmark cost is ₹7 (~$0.1025)/Wp less than the previous benchmark cost of ₹60 (~$0.878)/Wp for this category.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/pump.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10371" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/pump.png" alt="MNRE Issues Benchmark Cost for Off-Grid and Distributed Solar Generation" width="551" height="267" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/pump.png 551w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/pump-300x145.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 551px) 100vw, 551px" /></a></p>
<p>MNRE has set ₹85,000 (~$1,244.85)/horse power (HP) as the benchmark cost for solar pump up to 3 HP DC capacity in general category states and ₹93,500 (~$1,369.33)/HP as benchmark cost for the same solar pump in special category states (north eastern states, hilly states, and union territories).</p>
<p>For solar pump of more than 3 HP DC capacity and up to 5 HP DC capacity, the benchmark cost in general category states is ₹77,000 (~$1,127.68)/HP and in special category states it is ₹84,700 (~$1,240.45)/HP.</p>
<p>For solar pumps of 3 HP AC capacity, the benchmark cost is ₹80,000 (~$1,171.62)/HP in general category states and ₹88,000 (~$1,288.78)/HP in special category states. For solar pumps of capacity more than 3 HP AC and up to 5 HP AC, the benchmark cost is ₹65,000 (~$951.942)/HP in general category states and ₹71,500 (~$1,047.14)/HP in special category states.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10372" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs.png" alt="MNRE Issues Benchmark Cost for Off-Grid and Distributed Solar Generation" width="606" height="304" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs.png 606w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs-600x301.png 600w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs-300x150.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs2.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10373" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs2.png" alt="MNRE Issues Benchmark Cost for Off-Grid and Distributed Solar Generation" width="559" height="261" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs2.png 559w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/packs2-300x140.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /></a></p>
<p>When contacted, an MNRE official told Mercom, “This is the second year in a row in which we have issued benchmark costs for these categories of products. Acceptance of solar pumps and solar lamps is increasing. These benchmark costs will ensure that people do not end up paying in excess and incur losses.”</p>
<p>“Benchmark costs will help expedite the process and boost project development for off-grid, standalone and rooftop solar,” added the MNRE official.</p>
<p>Image credit: Flickr</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="saboxplugin-wrap" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope itemprop="author"><div class="saboxplugin-tab"><div class="saboxplugin-gravatar"></div><div class="saboxplugin-authorname"><a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/author/saumy/" class="vcard author" rel="author"><span class="fn">Saumy Prateek</span></a></div><div class="saboxplugin-desc"><div itemprop="description"><div class="designboxt">
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border-radius: 50%;height: 50px;margin-top: -4px;border: 1px solid #00b451" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/saumy-edited-1.png" width="50" /></p>
<p><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Saumy Prateek</strong> Staff reporter at Mercom India<br />
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/saumy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More articles from Saumy Prateek</a></p>
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<div class="authorboxn"><img class="alignleft" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/saumy-edited-1.png" width="79" height="102" /><a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/saumy/" rel="noopener"><strong>Saumy Prateek, </strong> </a>is a senior staff reporter with MercomIndia.com covering business and energy news since 2016. Prior to Mercom, Saumy was a copy editor at Thomson Reuters. Saumy earned his Bachelors Degree in Journalism &amp; Mass Communication from the Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University.<a href="https://mercomindia.com/author/saumy/">More articles from Saumy Prateek.</a></div>
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MNRE Issues Benchmark Cost for Off-Grid Solar Systems and Distributed Solar Generation

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