The Government of India is working on a plan to roll out 3,000 MW of grid connected solar power projects in phase 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
“The Government also has plans to set up four solar thermal power projects through the Solar Energy Corporation of India,” Mr Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), said in a statement.
He said that the Government will also work on 6,000 MW projects through solar-specific renewable purchase obligation (RPO) scheme, and added that the renewable energy certificate (REC) scheme is expected to “catch on from next year”.
“With India’s electricity shortage estimated to be 25-35 GW, the Ministry’s emphasis will be equally on the grid connected as well as the off grid applications,” Mr Kapoor said.
“It is important to have an effective and robust rooftop policy with enough incentives to boost rooftop solar energy implementation in India, similar to Germany,” he added.
Mr Kapoor was speaking at ‘Destination India: Investment Opportunities for Solar Energy’ organised by FICCI during Intersolar Europe 2012 conference in Germany on Tuesday.
Intersolar Europe
The visit to Intersolar Europe will create linkages between Indian companies and their global counterparts and would help them in developing a platform for technology transfer, joint-venture initiatives and create investment opportunities for companies in both countries, the statement said.
According to the statement, the Indian industry and the Government feel that enhancing market access and collaborating with international counterparts will help build a strong base for augmenting solar power generation.
Mr Fida Hussain, CEO of J&K Energy Development Agency (JKEDA), said “J&K has been a leading state in solar energy application under Remote Village Electrification/General Category/and Solar Lantern schemes to Gujjar and Bakkarwal communities with electrifying almost more than 80,000 households under off grid solar energy application.''
About 2-MW capacity solar power plants have been installed and 3-MW solar power plants are coming up in Jammu and Kashmir including the Ladakh region, besides 10-MW mini hydro projects being implemented by JKEDA on IPP mode.
According to the FICCI statement, Mr K. Subramanya, Chairman of FICCI Solar Energy Task Force, said that due to sectoral cap, funding for solar energy projects has been a challenge and requires innovative ways of funding solar energy projects such as solar bonds.