Within days of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launching the ?solar lantern mission? for harnessing solar energy, a government owned body has called for setting up solar mission in line with space mission.

V Krishnamurthy, chairman, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has stressed the need for boosting research and development in areas of technology used in solar sector for making it commercially viable.

Krishnamurthy has said that through mission mode only the true potential for solar energy could be affectively harnessed.

While addressing the Energy Coordination Committee meeting, Singh had said that government would soon launch a ?solar lantern mission? for replacing the traditional lanterns, which use subsidised kerosene. These would meet the twin objectives of decreasing the country?s reliance on fossil fuels as well as tackling the impact of climate change.

The Prime Minister had also asked the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) to draft ?an umbrella legislation for promotion and growth of the renewable energy sector? as well as come out with a scheme that would mandates state power utilities to draw a certain minimum quantum of power based on renewable energy sources.

Stressing need for comprehensive solar energy policy, Krishnamurthy said that because of abundance supply of solar energy, all possible steps like fiscal incentives and research and development support to solar equipment manufacturers should be initiated for ensuring energy security of the country.

At present, the country generates 11,272 mega watts of electricity from sources like agro residues and plantation, wind, small hydel power, solar, cogenearation-bagasse and waste to energy. The potential from such renewable source of energy is 84,776 mw.

Because of various measures undertaken by the government, the grid interactive renewable power installed capacity at 6770 mw during 10th Plan is more than double the target of 3075 mw. However, the country could produce a meager 2.12 mega watt of solar energy out of renewable sources.

The government also under the national action plan on climate declared recently has advocated setting up of a solar mission. The action plan specifically mentions about importance of solar energy by stating that photovoltaic cells are becoming cheaper with new technology.

Even under the remote village electrification programme of MNRE for providing basic lighting facilities to unelectrified remote rural areas, 3368 un-electrified villages and 830 un-electrified hamlets of electrified villages have so far been provided solar lighting facilities. Solar system installation work is currently in operation in 1861 remote villages and 660 remote hamlets.