The next big thing?

Today's TOI carries this story:

India targets 1,000mw solar power in 2013

Very interesting, IMO.

The Union Cabinet is going to consider the mission document, which requires India to generate 1,000 mw of solar power every year by 2013. A complete package has been proposed to propel the power sector into `solar reforms' that could lead to annual production of 20,000 mw by 2020 if phase I of the solar mission goes well. The country currently produces less than 5 mw every year.

In the first phase, between 2010 and 2013, the government is also proposing to generate 200 mw of off-grid solar power and cover 7 million sq metres with solar collectors.

The mission, if approved by the Cabinet, will entail three phases with the ambitious targets and financial mechanisms for the latter two phases being reviewed on the basis of performance in the first three-year phase.

By the end of the final phase in 2022, the government hopes to produce 20,000 mw of grid-based solar power, 2,000 mw of off-grid solar power and cover 20 million sq metres with collectors.

Wow.

1GW/yr? That's mighty ambitious and even a significant fraction actually realized on the ground is great progress. To compare, our current total installed capacity is around 135GW (as compared to some 400GW in China and some 1250 GW in the US).

1GW/yr would be enough to power intra-city mass-transit (metros and overground high speed rail) in out top 20 cities. Having driven around in Hyd on a weekday in non-peak hours, I see no way other than a metro-like system for our top cities. NYC has a well planned and laid out metro. Why is Hyd or Banglore any less in need of one?

It would also dent our fuel bill and import dependence on oil since IMO our big cities account for a lot of our private petrol consumption.

And it would be green and non-polluting and all. Advantages raining all around. Wish the cost poart of the equation found more mention., What is the GoI planning to invest? How much does each MW of installed solar capacity cost? Etc.

BTW, did someone say entrepreneurial opportunity? You bet!

The government also plans to do away with customs and excise duty on import of capital equipment as well as ease the duty rates for raw material and inputs.

Roof-top solar power will be promoted by providing a generation based incentive for self-use as well as putting the power on to the grid.

To enhance human resources involved in the sector, it wants to train at least 1,000 engineers to specialise in the field besides providing scholarships to 100 engineers to study abroad in the first phase of the mission. IITs and other engineering institutes will be asked to set up specialised courses to meet the industry's demand.

To promote innovative uses of solar power, a venture capital fund will be set up to promote start-ups in collaboration with institutes like IIMs. A national centre of excellence for research on solar power is proposed as well to push research and development in the emerging field.

The government has proposed a Solar Energy Authority or a Mission with an additional secretary rank official to head the executive arm.