New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS): The government on Tuesday approved the Rs 11,814 crore phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme.

The phase-II is meant to achieve cumulative capacity of 40,000 megawatt (MW) from rooftop solar (RTS) projects by 2022.

According to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), under phase-II the central financial assistance (CFA) for the residential sector has been restructured. 40 per cent CFA has been made available for RTS systems up to 3 kw capacity, and 20 per cent for RTS system capacity beyond 3 kw and up to 10 kw.

"For group housing societies or residential welfare associations (GHS/RAW), CFA will be limited to 20 per cent for RTS plants for supply of power to common facilities. However, the capacity eligible for CFA for GHS or RAW will be limited to 10 kw per house with maximum capacity up to 500 kwp, inclusive of RTS put in individual houses in GHS or RWA," the CCEA said in a statement.

"CFA under residential category will be provided for 4,000 mw capacity and will be provided on the basis of benchmark cost or tender cost, whichever is lower," it said.

But central financial support will not be available for other categories like institutional, educational, social, government, commercial or industrial projects.

"Under phase-II programme, focus will be on increased involvement of Discoms. Performance-based incentives will be provided to Discoms, based on RTS capacity achieved in a financial year over and above the base capacity i.e. cumulative capacity achieved at the end of previous financial year," the statement said.

As per the statement, the programmes will have substantial environment impact in terms of lowering CO2 emissions and has a potential to generate employment opportunity equivalent to 9.39 lakh job years for skilled and unskilled workers.