The Planning Commission on Wednesday said that clean energy sources are not picking up because of price difference compared to conventional sources.

“Today, since we are subsidising conventional energy, even when green energy becomes competitive, it will not be chosen. It is because of price distortion, which is not easy to remove,’’ said Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission.

Ahluwalia told media persons at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial that the focus on clean energy should not been seen for solving a short-term problem.

“We need to work on clean energy now to be at a better position after 20 years. We are a developing country, so is China, who has invested 10 times more than us. Because they are looking ahead,’’ he added.

He said: “If we are going to curve out a sustainable path, we will have to increase the percentage of clean energy. Actually, to do that it is not to look at green energy in isolation. You need to integrate the management of electricity.’’

The Government is interested in incentivising the use of green energy. It is interested to create a viable, competitive domestic production base, Ahluwalia said.

siddhartha.s@thehindu.co.in