The nation is getting ready to roll out $19-billion National Solar Mission to generate 20 GW by 2020. The Prime Minister?s council on climate change is expected to meet in the first week of August to discuss the national solar plan draft and finalise it.
The plan covers both grid and off-grid solar energy generation and distribution. In the first stage, the draft envisages generating 1-1.5 GW of solar power by 2012, 6-7 GW by 2017 and 20 GW (installed) by 2020. It calls for using 40-50 million sq metres of surface area in domestic, industrial and commercial areas.
The government aims to achieve it by providing incentives to cut the cost of development and deployment of solar panels. The aim is bring down the cost of solar energy from Rs 15 to Rs 4-5/ KWh from Rs 3.5 Kwh base 2009 and achieve parity with coal by 2030 (Rs 2 KWh). The plan is expected to help offer lighting to 3 million households by 2012.
The plan calls for setting up a statutory solar authority under the ministry of new & renewable energy. It will have three verticals _ finance, technology & tariff, special project. The body will particularly focus on installation of solar collectors in hospitals, hotels and government buildings.
The Mission was one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, which was released last year. The plan has the potential to reduce India?s CO2 emissions by 42 million tonne.
??The solar mission can be India?s response to the global climate change logjam. It will make India?s position stronger in the negotiations. If India can do so much unilaterally, imagine what India can achieve if financing and clean technology support from rich countries come through. It?s the right answer at the opportune time,?? says Siddharth Pathak, climate & energy campaigner, Greenpeace India.
The UN climate change talks are to be held on December in Copenhagen to come up with a post-Kyoto climate change agreement.