Monday, May 13, 2013

Solar power all set to heat things up as state pushes the rooftop scheme , Indian Express

Embracing the solar panels may seem as alien as bikes once were to nicycle riders, but this too shall pass, is what experts believe | Martin louis
After making rain water harvesting a mass movement, the state government is now working towards a mass revolution in generating solar power from the rooftops, according to chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, Sudeep Jain
Hit hard by a power crisis, the state is focusing on renewable energy and has now embarked on a major solar energy initiative by announcing the Solar Energy Policy and is trying to generate 3,000 MW in the next few years, said Jain. Interestingly, solar home lighting is being installed in three lakh houses under the Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme (CMSPGHS) and will be completed by 2015-16.
The state’s new solar policy has created huge interest among investors which could be seen from the participation of delegates during RENERGY 2013, an International Conference and expo on Renewable energy. The state’s keenness to become a leader in solar energy could be seen as it has even started working out a certification mechanism for solar installation while the Union government is yet to think of it.
Even the private sector feels the new solar policy and various incentives, including `20,000 incentive for solar energy producers would lure investors. Chief executive officer of Consul Consolidated, Sriram Ramakrishnan, says that the announcement of subsidies would boost investment in solar energy. Ramakrishnan feels solar will be the buzzword and it will outdo wind energy soon.
Tarun Kapoor, the joint secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said that solar energy in India has entered the second phase and is set to scale up. Jain said the first phase had been a learning curve and rooftop revolution is taking centre stage. Ashwani Kumar, director MNRE says that challenges before solar energy sector is integration of solar energy with existing system besides training of people.
Vivek Chaturvedi, chief marketing officer Moser Baer Solar, said that there is a misception that solar power is expensive.

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