Seminar on
“SOLAR ENERGY: iNVESTMENT and R&D”
Saturday, 7 January 2012: Jaipur
Session Summary
|
Inaugural Session |
Chief Guest
Keynote speaker
Other Speakers |
- Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Government of India
- Mr Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, Government of Rajasthan
- Mr Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India
- Mr Parvez Diwan, Secretary, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India
- Mr Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India
- Mr Deepak Puri, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Renewable Energy & Chairman, Moser Baer India Ltd
|
| Session Highlights |
Mr Deepak Puri in his opening remarks pointed out that India receives 70% more solar radiation than Germany, the world leader in solar power. However solar power currently accounts for only 0.5% of total power generated in the country. Pointing out that 60% of rural households in India do not have access to electricity he urged for innovative models such as Pay per use and community charging to make solar energy popular and available to all.
Mr Tarun Kapoor gave a brief outline of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, which envisages 20 billion households to have solar lights by 2022.
Mr Ashok Gehlot in his keynote address outlined the advantages that Rajasthan enjoys vis-à-vis solar energy generation - land availability, availability of solar radiation at 6 – 7 kWH/m2 and availability of raw materials used in solar energy sector – Zinc, molten salt and solar glass.
Outlining Rajasthan Government’s initiatives to promote solar energy generation he highlighted the salient features of Rajasthan’s Solar Energy Policy. He informed that 722 companies have so far registered for setting up solar power projects, with a cumulative capacity of 16,900 MW. Including the projects already registered and the additional projects proposed, the sector is expected to attract investments to the tune of Rs 16,000 crores. Four solar parks are being set up in the State– Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer, he added.
Dr Farooq Abdullah said that investment and research in Solar Energy sector is a must as renewable energy can help preserve the global ecological balance. He expressed the need for increased efficiency and better technology in the sector for harnessing its true potential. He appealed to the overseas Indian Diaspora to look at investments in generating capacities and R & D.
Mr Vayalar Ravi was of the view that energy is the real force behind any development. He highlighted the advantages of solar energy especially in satisfying the basic requirements of rural India, generating employment opportunities and preventing migration to the cities.
Mr Pervez Diwan reiterated the environment benefits of solar energy and the solar potential of Rajasthan |
|
Session 1 – Investment Opportunities & State Policy |
Chief Guest
Guest of Honour
Moderator
Panelists |
- Mr Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State for Finance, Government of India
- Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister for Energy, Government of Rajasthan
- Mr Deepak Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India
- Mr Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary (Energy), Government of Rajasthan
- Mr D J Pandian, Principal Secretary – Energy and Petrochemicals, Government of Gujarat
- Lord Diljit Rana, Ex President, GOPIO
- Mr Sanjay Varghese, Chief Operating Officer, India Solar Farm Business, Lanco Solar
|
| Session Highlights |
Mr Deepak Gupta as moderator of the session pointed out that Rajasthan and Gujarat have the potential to emerge as the solar hubs in India. He stressed on the need of harnessing solar energy to meet the escalating energy demand.
Mr Namo Narain Meena in his address stressed that the renewable energy will play a central role in climate change mitigation. India has emerged as the 3rd best attractive destination for renewable energy projects after China and US. He pointed out that till June 2011, India has received Rs 5,000 crore FDI equity in renewable energy over a period of 3 years.
He also shared the details of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which was started with the objective of achieving grid parity by 2022 and cost parity in coal by 2033 besides a huge potential for employment. Various incentives and schemes in the same context were also shared.
Dr Jitendra Singh shared that so far Rajasthan has harnessed 873 MW of solar energy and is continuously working to explore more possibilities.
He also informed that Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy has a provision for allotting 2.5 to 3.5 hectares of land for the setting up of solar power projects and the entire allotment process will follow competitive bidding.
Mr Naresh Pal Gangwar was of the view that Rajasthan has the ability to harness solar energy with its vast thar desert western region and solar radiation which are the best in the world. It also has wind energy capability.
He stressed that besides harnessing solar energy, Rajasthan also provides an ample scope for investments in manufacturing of Solar Panels & Equipments.
Mr D J Pandian shared that Gujarat is strategically located for investment in solar power projects with its high levels of solar radiation (up to 6 kWh/m2/day) and availability of waste lands.
He informed that so far total solar plants will exceed 500 MW once commissioned. He also shared the details of the 5 MW Gandhinagar Photovoltaic Rooftop Programme.
He also shared that Gujarat has set a target of achieving 20% of the total energy from solar sector by 2020.
Lord Diljit Rana suggested that solar power generation aspects should be given top priority at the design state of the buildings only. He also stressed that awareness on the importance of solar energy is required at the grassroot level. He suggested tax exemptions on such investments made by the panchayats or local government bodies.
Mr Sanjay Varghese said that India imports 1/3rd of its energy requirements and the need is to adapt sustainable energy solutions. India has emerged as the second most attractive country after USA on the overall solar index. India provides a strong opportunity for investment in solar market to the tune of 40-50 billion $ by 2022. The key issues that need to be addressed to make it a success include strengthening of RPO framework, focus on the domestic manufacturing of solar products and favourable off-grid policy and subsidy. |
|
Session 2 – R&D and Manufacturing Technology Development |
Guest of Honour
Moderator
Panelists |
- Mr Kevin Ramnarine, Minister of Energy, Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
- Mr James Abraham, Chief Executive Officer, Sunborne Energy
- Mr Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
- Dr Ayodhya N Tiwari, Head, Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaices, Switzerland
- Dr Prem K Kalra, Director, IIT Jodhpur
|
| Session Highlights |
Mr James Abraham setting the tune for the session stressed on R & D as the core of the solar energy.
Mr Kevin Ramnarine mentioned that solar energy has a strategic part in renewable energy. He advocated for cooperation between India and Trinidad & Tobago in renewable energy sector particularly in import & sale of energy efficient lighting and energy audits in buildings. He highlighted that Trinidad & Tobago has the 7th largest resources in liquefied natural gas and hence is an attractive investment destination for Indian companies.
He also informed that Trinidad & Tobago is the 2nd country in the world after Qatar which uses 100% energy from natural gas and is slowly moving towards solar energy.
Mr Tarun Kapoor stated that out of the total 22,811 MW (till 31 Dec 2011) of renewable energy in India solar energy occupies only 221 MW. He further emphasized on R&D initiatives as well as investments through PPP mode to achieve grid tariff parity targeted for the year 2022.
Dr Ayodhya N Tiwari highlighted the usage of flexible solar cells for rural housing. They are lightweight, flexible, energy efficient and low cost. He stated that the next generation technology in solar sector will be thin film on foil solar cells.
Dr Prem K Kalra informed that IIT Jodhpur enjoys the distinction of the Centre for Excellence for Solar energy which focuses on R&D, capacity building, hybridization and testing & benchmarking in solar sector. He further informed that the centre is planning several innovations in self sustaining smart mini & micro grid DC system, batteries and inverters.
Mr James Abraham in his concluding remarks said that the solar energy sector should focus on R & D and technological collaborations for getting expertise in solar energy sector. |
|
