2.4 Recent revision of targets for raising the solar power capacity in the country to 100 Gigawatt by 2021-22, in place of 22 GW set earliermay UPAII , would place India ahead of rest of the world, with 9% share of solar power in the total power generation, from a current level of 0.5%. Currently, the Germany has highest capacity of 42 GW of solar power and Italy has the highest share of 7.2% in total generation. A 33 fold rise in solar power capacity in India from the current 3.3 GW to 100 GW in 7 years would set another world record.
2.5 Such a huge addition of solar power capacity can provide an opportunity for the country to kickstart stagnating investments and pace of growth in the economy with infusion of more than Rs. 6.5-7 lac crores into the sector, ultimately capable to add manifold more output in GDP and investments by ancilliarisation and development of vast supply line for components down the supply chain, along with development of a state- of- the- art- technology.
2.6 Each of the top 10 solar power generating countries of the world have preferred to develop their indigenous solar power industry to meet the domestic demand. In our case as well, if the domestic firms are provided an initial breather by imposing anti-dumping duties on imported hardware and/ or are subsidized to give them a level playing, we can build a booming solar power sector to cater growing indigenous as well as global demand. A forbearance of 2-4 paisa of extra cost per KWHr, arising from imposing of anti-dumping duty on imported hardware or from providing a subsidy to the indigenous industry would pay rich dividends in developing the domestic capacity and resultant employment, income and growth.
3.Strategic Approach:
Various strategic measures necessary to build indigenous capacity may be:
(3.i) Development of industry consortium/consortia and securing with active government supportand funding.
(ii) Creation of a Technology Development Fund.
(iii) Coordinated networking of all the departments and institutes carrying on research in the area.
(iv) Acquisition of companies abroad for procuring latest technology.
(v) Providing technical and financial support by the government to the firms operating in the field of solar power, including equity participation.
(vi) Technology development support to public sector units like BHEL and private player etc. who are already in the course of installing capacities with indigenous technologies.
(vii) "Facilitating Technology Development Corporative Associations" and "Technology Development Corporative Agreements".
(viii) Extending support to other developing countries and financing via ventures in the neighboring countries.
India may even think of back-loading its agenda of raising solar capacity to 100 giga watts, in view of rapid decline in the rates being offered for solar power by the foreign bidders even to the extent of two third of the threshold of viability tariffs of Rs. 7.04 per kilo watt /hour as decidedby the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Moreover, if required India may back-load installation of solar power capacity by rapidly adding coal-gasification which is equally green and affordable. Moreover, India has fourth largest proven reserves of coal, wherein almost 50% of the reserves are either in- accessible due to being under vast- depth, or are of very poor quality unfit for use in thermal power plants. Such reserves of coal too can be used for gasification. So,in every case India should ensure participation of indigenous players at every stage of value chain of solar power to the extent of two third capacity installation. Even the BHEL is putting up a plant with indigenous technology for solar wafers. The BHEL is also developing a hybridpower system, integrating solar wind and biomass based power generation. So, that during the monsoon season power can be supplied when the sun is not visible.
Therefore, in the endeavor to raise solar power capacity with larger indigenous participation, if a proper blend of fiscal support, purchase priority, integrated policy support and R&D support is extended to indigenous manufacturers for building the domestic capacity in solar power hardware manufacturing, India can do the miracle, become world leader in solar power and usher in a new era of growth and development. Already, the cost of power per unit has come down to Rs. 5 from 20 in last few years. The solar is therefore only hope for global energy woes. And India can ride this global wave. If India can send Mars orbiter at one sixth of the global cost, then, in solar power as well, we may emerge as world leader by pursuing a techno-nationalistic approach as has been done by China in telecom, power, shipbuilding etc. But, if we would add solar power capacity through foreign supplies and FDI we would miss another escalator for a quantum leap for next more than a decade.
India: The most blessed place for Solar Power:
With about 300 clear, sunny days in a year. India's theoretical solar power reception, on its land area alone, is about 5,000 trillion kilowatt-hour (kWh) per year (or 5 Ewh/yr) which exceeds over all of the fossil fuel energy reserves available in India. for example, assuming the efficiency of PV modules were as low as 15%, this would still be more than thousand times greater than the domestic electricity demand for 2015.
sector of entire value chainkk
Objectives:
Conclusion
In this regard the aforesaid forum "Forum for Promoting Solar Power in India" can help the country to ensure maximum indigenous participation, to trigger investments, employment, income, demand generation across the value chain of solar power generation. As the solar power and wind-power is likely to get state funding of above $ 200 billion in next seven years, it would generate a flow of more than seven fold (i.e. 1.7 trillion or Rs. 120 lac crores) by multiplier impact of money transactions across components
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