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Indian government working on massive solar energy plan - 7thSpace Interactive

Indian government working on massive solar energy plan


Developing countries act while EU struggles with financial support

Bonn, Germany — A draft Indian government plan, obtained by Greenpeace, outlines plans for a national target of 20 Gigawatts of solar generation capacity by 2020. The massive green plan is a clear example of how developing countries are acting on climate change, while in the industrialised world, the EU and the US are still struggling with their reduction targets, and delaying concrete financial support needed by developing countries for clean energy.

Greenpeace is calling on EU finance ministers, meeting next Tuesday in Luxembourg, to recognise the need for financial support of €110 billion annually for green energy investments in developing countries, measures for adapting to climate change and stopping deforestation.

The Indian solar plan would put India in the global forefront in the fight against climate change. The Solar Mission document is a national solar energy plan that makes a significant contribution to a sustainable development strategy for the Indian economy.

"This would be the most ambitious solar plan that any country has laid out so far, but in order for India to take concrete steps to fulfill this solar mission, India needs international support. The industrialised world needs to come up with solid proposals on technology and finance to help developing countries deliver on ambitious plans like this one," said Siddharth Pathak, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace India, from the UN climate talks in Bonn.

On 9 June, the EU's finance ministers will meet in Luxembourg to discuss financial support for green investments in developing countries. To date, the ministers have been reluctant to quantify any specific funding that developing countries need - and have been promised - for additional investments in clean energy, forest protection and adaptation to climate change.

"EU leaders are happy to agree quick-fix solutions to save failed banks, but do not help countries like India to invest in green measures needed to save the climate," said Joris den Blanken, Climate and Energy Policy Director of Greenpeace European Unit, also at the climate talks.

"Next week they have a fresh chance to put money on the table. That will not only boost new plans like the Indian solar plan, it could also break the current deadlock in the international climate negotiations here in Bonn," he said.

There are hopeful signs. The German Financial Times today reported that EU government experts have advised the finance ministers that at least €100 billion annually is needed for the developing countries.
 

Known_Unknown

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India is also one of the leading countries in the world in the use of wind power.
 
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and contrary to whats reported indian carbon pollution is much lower than China who has 4 times the carbon pollution of India
 

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Wind power in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased in the last few years. Although a relative newcomer to the wind industry compared with Denmark or the US, a combination of domestic policy support for wind power and the rise of Suzlon (a leading global wind turbine manufacturer) have led India to become the country with the fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the world, and the wind energy leader in the developing world.[1]
 

F-14

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Potential places for installing these Solar plants are
Rajhastan
Tamil nadu and
Palghat
 
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Indian Power Generation

India Mulls Ultramega Plans for Solar Power - GLG News

India Mulls Ultramega Plans for Solar Power

Implications

In an article published in the 6th June issue of New York Times, authored by James Canter, it is reported that India is working towards becoming a global leader and a hub of solar power, something the developed nations like Germany, Spain and US were recognized for. This is arising out of a draft report called the National Solar Mission which the Government of India is working on. As per the report India plans to add 20000 MW of Solar Power Generation Capacity by 2020. Further the plan envisages 100000 MW by 2030 and 200000 MW by the middle of this century. Recognizing that at present the costs for solar panels are still abnormally high, the plan sets out to accelerate indigenous production through various measures and hopes that with the huge volume of demand in India and China, there would be a industry effort to reduce the cost of production and the solar power costs could come down to a widely affordable Rs 4-Rs 5 per kwhr which is 7-8 cents, the average US power tariff.
Analysis

To keep pace with the global trend of exercising feed-in-tariff solar power, Govt. of India initiated Solar PV projects up to a maximum capacity of 50 MW are to be supported by financial incentives of a maximum of Rs 12/kWh (28 US cents) for PV projects and Rs 10/kWh (24 US cents) for solar thermal power projects for a period of 10 years. With investors rushing to set up solar power projects and adding up to 2500 MW of capacity, the Ministry has asked the Planning Commission and the Indian Cabinet to expand the 11th Plan solar power programme beyond 50 MW.


In March 2007 the Indian government announced a semiconductor policy under its Special Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS) which will provide 20% of the capital expenditure during the first 10 years for semiconductor industries, including manufacturing activities related to solar PV technology located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and 25% for industries not located in an SEZT

India has an installed capacity for manufacture of solar panels of 700MW per year and has the skills and capabilities to enhance the same to 20000MW per year.


The solar energy industry in India has undoubtedly gained momentum and should be able to keep pace with the government’s aim of achieving 10% of the country’s total electricity requirements by 2012. India already possesses a balanced Eco-system for the PV industry, a high-tech manufacturing base and skilled labor sufficient to make it a booming industry. Annual PV production has already reached over 300 MW, with about 85% being exported.India receives solar energy equivalent to over five trillion MWh a year, far more than its total energy consumption, and should therefore benefit from economies of scale that are unavailable to smaller countries. However, it is necessary to address the availability and management of a strong infrastructure and the need to consider a long-term solar energy policy (20–25 years).India's renewable energy ministry has declared a new program designed to expand solar power generating projects up to a maximum capacity of 50MW.Faced with inadequate power generation and big transmission and distribution losses, the government wants to generate at least 10 percent of its electricity through solar power by 2012. A total of 33 solar photovoltaic power plants connected to the Indian power grid have already been built with government support. The plants are expected to generate 25.5 lakh (2.55 million) units of electricity annually. India currently has 19 manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules. Several more large investments are in the pipeline. Thus the initiatives in the proposed National Solar Mission are well founded and presents an opportunity to global manufacturers, system integrators, investors, and banks to channelize their focus towards India.
 

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Most new urban houses and apartment blocks have solar powered water heaters. Anyone with any information as to how affordable it would be to use solar power to power homes in such apartments? Solar water heaters are very cost effective. We had one installed 7 or 8 years ago and have already recovered the costs by way of money saved on electricity that would be required to power electric water heaters.
 

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It will not be affordable at all, not even as an industrial solution, leave alone a residential one.

Unless the government sets up huge manufacturing units to mass produce kits to harness electricity from solar power and helps people buy that, however i think just buying a diesel generator would be cheaper.

Some time back the MoEF was planning to introduce a order to make all the industries use solar power for the external lighting in their industrial area, don’t know how that went.

However even in this article the stress should not be on being a global leader, that is of no consequence for us, we are a energy deficient nation, and any field that can generate energy is beneficial for us (both financially and strategically) hence we have a domestic market that can justify any investments into these sectors that the government will make (R&D, JVs, installation etc.), and that is the key for us.
 

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Just wonder how then a solar water heater is affordable and not a complete lighting system. Sure it will be expensive to install, but in the long run, will it be cost effective? In Bangalore is Rs 6 a unit. Right now we are heating up our water for free. All costs recovered in less than 5 yrs.
 

kuku

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As this field is new, we can afford to involve the private industry into it and i believe that will be the key, if the public sector or the government sector gets a hold of development in field of massive solar power projects, that will be the end of them.
 

Yusuf

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But one thing is for sure is that the Government is providing a lot of assistance to solar power manufacturers. There are many manufacturers in Bangalore itself.
 

kuku

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Just wonder how then a solar water heater is affordable and not a complete lighting system. Sure it will be expensive to install, but in the long run, will it be cost effective? In Bangalore is Rs 6 a unit. Right now we are heating up our water for free. All costs recovered in less than 5 yrs.
The whole system for producing electricity is just too expensive, especially when we consider that one can get much cheaper rates using a petroleum based generator or a gas based generator, that is unless the government can provide another subsidy for this.
 

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It does give for solar water heater in terms of some discount on the electricity bill. Besides it give credit to the buyer at 1% per year.
 

kuku

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I will get the exact figures for this in banglore, delhi, and mumbai (a friend works in this sector) and post them, last time i talked with him the biggest problem was that people have a real demand for alternative sources for electricity, however very few are willing to put in the initial amount and wait for 8-10 years to break even.
 

kuku

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kuku as it becomes more widely accepted the cost should come down.
Yes that is the only thing that can happen, and the government should put more money into R&D related to these fields, we need electricity to make our nation better, and we need as much as we can generate.

However this should not be done at the cost of more obvious and current solutions, like reforming the maintenance of electric grids and putting in money to make them more effective because government firms have lost a lot of electricity due to poor maintenance and exceptional time it takes to modernise the grids (a gazillion tenders and counting with almost nothing to show for).
 

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True, agree with Kuku, here Government Assistance is much needed in this sector and uninterrupted or nearly uninterrupted power supply powers a nations industrial growth, moreover when we are going in the way of massive industrialisation , this sector needs tremendous attention, and more over Govt. undertaking organisations needs to be careful about maintenance.

Regards
 

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Green cess to raise Rs 55 crore

BANGALORE: The proposed green cess is part of the state's first renewable energy policy. This follows the Centre's direction to all states, specially power-starved ones, to put in place their renewable energy policies.

"We proposed a green cess of 5 paise per kilowatt hour (kWh) on commercial and industrial consumers and that's expected to generate about Rs 55 crore annually for renewable energy," said G Satish, conservator of forests and general manager, KREDL.

The draft policy, a copy of which is available with TOI, aims at escalating renewable energy generation from 2,400 MW to 6,600 MW by 2014. Energy conservation and efficiency will save up to 7,901 million units or 900 MW.

Sell it to the grid!

A tariff will be set for rooftop grid-connected solar kW-level projects with net metering facility -- a system by which renewable energy can be directly sold to the grid.

The `Solar Karnataka' Programme aims for 25,000 solar rooftops of 5-10 KW with net metering in the next five years and with a generation potential of 350 MU. The solar feed tariff will be Rs 13 per kWh for the first 12 years and Rs 3 from the 13th to 25th year.

Lucrative incentive

An incentive of Rs 25 lakh per MW will be given to biogas manufacturers, which will be added to the grid and sold to Escoms. There'll be a single-window clearance for all projects by the state-level empowered committee.

"An award scheme for timely commissioning and an inter-departmental review committee to monitor policy and implementation are also part of the policy," Satish explained.

Multi-crore investment

The Akshaya Shakthi Nidhi (green energy fund) will invest Rs 500 crore in renewable energy through funds generated from the green cess. The total load from the industrial sector is 11,000 MU, and a 5 paise cess will help them generate adequate funds for renewable energy development.

The consortium of Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, Akshaya Shakti Nidhi Trust and the energy department in collaboration with the Karnataka State Finance Corporation will raise funds. Forest-land clearance will be achieved in four months and various statutory clearances within 90 days.

A system of renewable energy economic zone for all SEZs will be created whereby 10% of the SEZ land will be provided for such energy generation. For now, the plan looks ambitious and a timely solution for the fluctuating power situation in this power-starved state.

Rise of renewable energy

* 5 paise cess per kilowatt hour on commercial and industrial users

* With this, the government hope to generate at lest Rs 55 crore

* This money will be used to develop infrastructure for renewable energy sources

* Draft policy aims to increase renewable energy generation from 2,400 MW to 6,600 MW by 2014

Solar rooftops in focus

* `Solar Karnataka' Programme aims for 25,000 solar rooftops

* These will be of 5-10 KW with net metering in the next five years

* The generation potential is 350 million units

* Solar feed tariff will be Rs 13 per kWh for the first 12 years and Rs 3 from the 13th to 25th year

* Incentive of Rs 25 lakh per MW to biogas manufacturers

Behind the initiative

* Consortium of Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, Akshaya Shakti Nidhi Trust and the energy department in collaboration with the Karnataka State Finance Corporation will raise funds
Green cess to raise Rs 55 crore - Bangalore - Cities - The Times of India
 

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Bangalore homes may turn 'solar'

BANGALORE: In an effort to tide over the power crisis, the government may make it mandatory for all new houses in Bangalore to have solar installations.

Energy minister K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday said the government is thinking of compulsory installation of solar energy units; a final decision on this will be taken soon.

Besides, the government has decided to add 2,000 MW of additional power to the state grid in the current fiscal year. The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa; he took stock of all ongoing power projects in the state.

Of the 2,000 MW of power to be added, 1,350 MW will be generated from conventional sources and the rest from renewable energy sources.

Eshwarappa said the government was hoping to add about 5,000 MW of additional power to the state's grid in next five years. Existing power generation stands at 7,000 MW.

Giving break-up of 2,000 MW of power to be added, Eshwarappa said that about 500 MW of power would come from Nandikur Thermal Power Plant near Udupi which will be commissioned in March 2010. "Another 250 MW of power will be added from eight unit of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS),'' he said. The minister directed the officials to speed up work on all on-going projects including the Chattisghar power plant. Yeddyurappa also reviewed progress made at Kudagi, Ghataprabha, Bellary, Yaramaras, Yadalapur projects.
Bangalore homes may turn 'solar' - Bangalore - Cities - The Times of India
 
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Power Engineering - India plans to develop 60 solar cities

India plans to develop 60 solar cities


20 July 2009 - The Indian government is planning to develop 60 solar cities through renewable energy installations to reduce usage of conventional energy sources by around ten per cent.

A total of 60 cities are proposed to be developed as solar cities at the 11th Plan period, including two model cities. The New and Renewable Energy Minister, Farooq Abdullah, said that the ministry is providing financial support of up to INR5m for each solar city to the respective state governments.

"The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a programme to develop solar cities aimed at reducing a minimum of 10 per cent of the projected demand of conventional energy through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy installations, the government said in a statement.
 

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