Centre announces steps to boost renewable energy

Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21

Giving a fillip to the country’s renewable energy programme, the Centre has taken a slew of decisions in a span of six months to boost “clean energy” in the country.

These decisions include providing Rs 1,000 crore to Central Public Sector units to set up over 1,000 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects, setting up of 25 solar parks each with a capacity of 500 MW requiring Rs 4,050 crore from the Centre and setting up of over 300 MW of solar power projects by defence and para military units.

With these moves, India will emerge as a major solar power producing country as nowhere in the world solar parks are being developed on such a large scale.

The government also restored Accelerated Depreciation benefit in the Union Budget 2014 to give much-needed relief to wind power developers and to ensure ramp up production. This will enable to kick start and ramp up wind capacity addition expeditiously, besides resolving the anti-dumping duty dispute.

These measures have been undertaken to make India “Solar manufacturing” hub with priority for domestic players in line with “Make in India” programme.

In order to facilitate speedy growth of renewable energy power generation in the country, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is preparing a Renewable Energy Bill and a plan for developing solar energy in the next five years.

The government will also come out with a comprehensive National Energy Policy and focus on development of energy related infrastructure, human resource and technology. It aims at substantially augmenting electricity generation capacity through a judicious mix of conventional and non-conventional sources. It plans to expand the national solar mission and connect households and industries with gas-grids.