Indian solar mission, 20,000 MW by 2022
Monday, 18 January 2010
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 (Commodity Online): India plans to install 20 million solar lights and 20 million square meters of solar thermal panels to generate 20,000 megawatts by 2022 as part of its National Solar Mission, formally launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently.
"We propose to provide up to 90 per cent support for setting up solar power plants." Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said at the launch. "In many other solar applications, where the initial cost is still very high, we're considering proposals for providing up to a 30 per cent grant in aid." he said.
India, Asia's third-largest energy consumer, relies on coal for more than half of its power capacity. Just a small fraction of India's power currently comes from solar energy, which costs about two and a half times more than power from coal.
By installing 20 million solar lights, for example, the minister said India would save 1 billion liters of kerosene every year. As a "first benchmark" in the next three years, India also plans to add 1,300 megawatts of solar power of which 1,100 megawatts will be grid-connected and 200 megawatts will be off-grid, Abdullah said. "If we achieve this, achieving the remaining target will not be impossible."
Noting the high initial cost of solar energy, especially for grid power generation, Abdullah said he aims to bring down the cost "as quickly as possible." Abdullah said India is working in "close coordination" with other stakeholders, particularly the United States, so India can emerge as a global solar power while making solar energy affordable in the country.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he was convinced solar energy can be the next scientific and industrial frontier in India.
A Russion delegation who visitted India during the launch saw huge prospects for joint ventures with India in solar energy. In addition to forging joint ventures, Russia is also interested in setting up manufacturing facilities for the application of solar energy in industrial, military, civil and space sectors, according to Sergey V Seredin, a director with Moscow-based Research-Production Enterprise "Kavant," who led the Russian delegation.
Seredin said his company is planning to enter into a series of memorandums of understanding with Indian partners as well as government agencies for providing them with solar power station technology and installation. India's "ambitious" solar mission, "if implemented fully would put India among the world leaders in (the) application of solar energy and its components," Seredin said.
India could emerge as a world leader in the application of solar energy through bilateral technological exchanges with Russia, officials said in New Delhi.
Sergei Seredin, Russia's first deputy director general of economics and finance, led a delegation from Moscow to take part in inaugural ceremonies. He lauded the programme as setting India on a course to become a world leader in solar energy.
"In our opinion, India has adopted the right approach in renewable energy," he told The Hindu. The director said Moscow was interested in playing a role in New Delhi's strategy to adopt an ambitious solar energy plan. This includes working with Indian companies to construct solar power stations and manufacturing facilities.
"We are open to forging joint ventures and also set up manufacturing facilities in India and Russia for solar energy components for industrial and other use, including supply of solar cells, modules or other such applications," he said. "We see huge prospects for joint ventures with India."
"We propose to provide up to 90 per cent support for setting up solar power plants." Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said at the launch. "In many other solar applications, where the initial cost is still very high, we're considering proposals for providing up to a 30 per cent grant in aid." he said.
India, Asia's third-largest energy consumer, relies on coal for more than half of its power capacity. Just a small fraction of India's power currently comes from solar energy, which costs about two and a half times more than power from coal.
By installing 20 million solar lights, for example, the minister said India would save 1 billion liters of kerosene every year. As a "first benchmark" in the next three years, India also plans to add 1,300 megawatts of solar power of which 1,100 megawatts will be grid-connected and 200 megawatts will be off-grid, Abdullah said. "If we achieve this, achieving the remaining target will not be impossible."
Noting the high initial cost of solar energy, especially for grid power generation, Abdullah said he aims to bring down the cost "as quickly as possible." Abdullah said India is working in "close coordination" with other stakeholders, particularly the United States, so India can emerge as a global solar power while making solar energy affordable in the country.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he was convinced solar energy can be the next scientific and industrial frontier in India.
A Russion delegation who visitted India during the launch saw huge prospects for joint ventures with India in solar energy. In addition to forging joint ventures, Russia is also interested in setting up manufacturing facilities for the application of solar energy in industrial, military, civil and space sectors, according to Sergey V Seredin, a director with Moscow-based Research-Production Enterprise "Kavant," who led the Russian delegation.
Seredin said his company is planning to enter into a series of memorandums of understanding with Indian partners as well as government agencies for providing them with solar power station technology and installation. India's "ambitious" solar mission, "if implemented fully would put India among the world leaders in (the) application of solar energy and its components," Seredin said.
India could emerge as a world leader in the application of solar energy through bilateral technological exchanges with Russia, officials said in New Delhi.
Sergei Seredin, Russia's first deputy director general of economics and finance, led a delegation from Moscow to take part in inaugural ceremonies. He lauded the programme as setting India on a course to become a world leader in solar energy.
"In our opinion, India has adopted the right approach in renewable energy," he told The Hindu. The director said Moscow was interested in playing a role in New Delhi's strategy to adopt an ambitious solar energy plan. This includes working with Indian companies to construct solar power stations and manufacturing facilities.
"We are open to forging joint ventures and also set up manufacturing facilities in India and Russia for solar energy components for industrial and other use, including supply of solar cells, modules or other such applications," he said. "We see huge prospects for joint ventures with India."