New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved the setting up of the National Institute of Renewable Energy at Kapurthala in Punjab.

Minister of State for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Mr. Vilas Muttemwar, gave this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

"The Ministry has already established the Solar Energy Centre at Gwal Pahari, Gurgaon which is engaged in activities of testing, standardization and development of solar energy technologies", the Minister said.

The institute will carry out similar activities in the area of bio-energy, including biogas and bio-diesel, as done by the Solar Energy Centre.

The Government has sanctioned a grant of Rs.37.69 crores for establishing the institute.