Import Duty Solar Cells

No import duty was applicable on import of solar cell for solar energy generation during the last three years. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, (Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. Solar Power Developers (SPDs) are free to procure cells of foreign/indigenous origin. The procurement price is settled by the SPDs through negotiation with the cell producers and therefore it keeps varying from time to time.  

The Minister further stated that the annual growth registered in solar energy production during the last three years in the country is as under:

The measures being taken by the Government to take effective steps to increase the production and to give incentives are

• Provision of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for solar power in the National Tariff   Policy.
• Grant of subsidy on off-grid applications.
• Generation Based Incentive (GBI), facility for bundled power & Viability Gap Funding   (VGF) for Grid connected Solar Power Projects through various interventions announced   from time to time.
• Setting up Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects & Solar Parks, Solar Plants on the banks of    canals and Solar power driven agricultural pump sets for energizing one lakh pumps.
• Concessional Import duty/Excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power plants, accelerated depreciation and tax holiday.

Keywords: Import Duty Solar Cells, Solar cell import duties in India