The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has proposed an upward revision in the benchmark cost of Concentrating Solar Thermal Technologies Programme to promote energy efficiency.

According to the changes, the benchmark cost will be related to performance efficiency in design and manufacturing of solar thermal power systems so that more energy is delivered in a cost-effective manner.

“The existing benchmark costs of the CST systems were developed under ‘off-grid & decentralised solar application’ scheme of the National Solar Mission in 2010,” an official statement said.

The Ministry has invited public suggestions on the issue by February 15, 2016.

The proposed revision in the benchmark cost on the basis of instantaneous heat output/heat delivery from CST systems will also accommodate increase in the cost of various components of CST systems.

“The CST systems include Non-Imaging Compound (NIC) parabolic reflectors, Single Axis Automatic Tracked and Dual Axis Automatic Tracked (Paraboloid Dishes, Central Tower),” the statement added.

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