Delhi"s first solar power plant

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated Delhi's first solar power plan of one megawatt capacity on December 21. Dikshit said. "In terms of the amount of power produced, it may not be much but it's a huge step in terms of generating clean power," she said. 

Energy Secretary Deepak Gupta said energy sources such as solar would be the next big thing in the country because the government was committed to multiply the generation figures manifold. "The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has set a target of generating 20000 MW of solar power by 2022," he said.

The solar panels are installed on the roof of a central store of discom North Delhi Power Limited in Keshavpuram in Northwest Delhi. The Tatas plan to set up solar panels on the rooftops of around 56 of its grid substations in north and northwest Delhi with a cumulative capacity 2.5-3 MW.

SELF (Solar Electric Light Fund) : Access to Energy a Human Right?

New Hampshire, USA – Just imagine taking your sick son or daughter to the hospital after dark and having the doctor examine the child by candlelight. Or walking 10 miles to the hospital for treatment after being bitten by a rabid dog and discovering that the vaccination you need is located an additional 100 miles away in a facility that can stock it because it has refrigerators.

That was the situation at the Village Health Works clinic in Burundi, where the sick often lay suffering in the dark and frustrated doctors had to consider the cost of running the diesel generator before turning it on in order to supply oxygen to a dying patient. “All of those discussions that you never want to have as a doctor,” said to Dr. Sri Shamsuner, a visiting physician from the University of California.

Then SELF stepped in.

The organization, with the help of partners, volunteers and supporters, installed a 10 kW solar array and battery bank to provide power to Village Health Works.  The clinic is now able to use electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, running its generators only when absolutely necessary.  Doctors and staff now utilize modern medical tools like EKG machines and ultrasound equipment.  They can also access the internet to help with diagnostics and learn about innovative treatments for disease.

Consider whether you believe that energy is a human right.  Then consider the billions of people in developing nations for whom energy is a luxury that they must live without.  Finally, consider that it’s not really about the energy at all, but about the services that it provides.  “We’re essentially using solar power as an enabling technology to kickstart improvements in health, education and economic well-being for whole villages,” said Bob Freling, Executive Director of SELF.

 You can go to SELF’s website and  find it out for yourself..

Concentrated Photovoltaic System

Sahaj Solar, a Company in Gujarat, is  developing CPV (Concentrated Photovoltaic) system. They are  Solar Plant Provider in India and work with a mission to make affordable solar systems and solar panel in India. They are  doing Research and have brought their  advanced products from laboratory to market. For details, please contact Viral Shah and visit their website:

http://www.sahajsolar.com/

US-India Solar Business Council

A  U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed with a view to promote trade and investment in the solar industry between the U.S. and India. The USIBC is comprised of private-sector companies and seeks to help the United States' export solar technologies while furthering India's goal of reducing its dependence on imported coal and fossil fuels through the use of solar energy. The USIBC Solar Task Force is a subcommittee of USIBC's Energy, Environment, Enterprise (EEE) Executive Committee, which is comprised of more than 100 members. Bryan Ashley, chief marketing officer of Suniva, and Aparna Doshi, chief operating officer of Astonfield, will Co-Chair the Task Force. 

The  USIBC Solar Task Force aims at cooperation  between American and Indian firms participating in this vital sector, and to promote an enabling environment that will spur the application of efficient, clean solar-powered energy throughout India and the globe,” said USIBC President Ron Somers.

Remote Village Electrification Programme

The Remote Village Electrification Programme is being implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to provide lighting/electricity using renewable energy, in those remote unelectrified villages and hamlets which are not going to be covered under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for grid electrification. The Programme has been continued during the 11th Plan and a budget allocation of Rs.80 crore made for the year. Although a variety of renewable energy technologies are possible for electrification of remote villages including small hydro, wind, biomass and solar energy, yet, solar PV lighting remains the most preferred. The decision to use a particular technology is taken by the state implementing agencies after examination of the technical feasibility and resource availability. The Programme is implemented in states by notified state implementing agencies. The Ministry provides a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of upto 90% of the costs of installation of various renewable energy devices/systems. In addition, many other promotional supports and a substantial amount of service charge are provided to the state implementing agencies. The cumulative sanctions under the Programme since its inception reached around 10,000, villages and hamlets of which work has been completed in around 6200 villages and hamlets. A target for coverage of 10,000 villages and hamlets has been set for the 11th Plan, of which 3280 villages and hamlets have been taken up by 31.12.2009. The main states where the programme has greater relevance due to difficult access to areas are Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and the North Eastern states. Special priority is being accorded to villages affected by internal disturbances/extremism in line with the policy of the Government. Many important steps were initiated during the year to accelerate implementation of the Programme. Some of these are: Approval by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure – The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) approved the continuation of Remote Village Electrification Programme of the Ministry for the 11th Plan. The Administrative Approval for 2009-10 incorporating the terms and conditions for implementation of the Programme, as approved by the Committee, has been issued. Constitution of the Coordination Committee – A Coordination Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, MNRE for the Programme in accordance with the mechanism approved by the Cabinet. The other members of the Committee include representatives of Ministry of Power, Rural Electrification Corporation, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Planning Commission. The Committee is empowered to approve the proposals for financial support under the programme and also lay down the terms for implementation of the projects. The Committee had two meetings during the period under review. Eligibility for support – It was expanded during the year to cover: i. All census unelectrified villages and their hamlets not covered under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, as confirmed by REC. Unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages having population of more than 300 and which are situated at least 3 kms from the nearest distribution transformer of the Grid. ii. Uncovered households which existed as on 31.12.2008, of eligible villages and hamlets which have been earlier taken up under Remote Village Electrification Programme. The list of such households/names of such beneficiaries should be endorsed by the village panchayat and subsequently by the Block Development Officer or the Chief Development Officer or the District Collector.    Coordination with States - A number of review meetings were held during the year with the state implementing agencies to expedite the implementation of already sanctioned projects and also to impress upon them the need to identify early the villages and hamlets excluded from RGGVY for coverage under the Programme. Such meetings have been held at the level of Secretary with the North Eastern states, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, etc.  Training, Awareness and Orientation Programmes – In continuation of its efforts for involvement of different stakeholders, such as the concerned officials of the district and the State Electricity Board (SEB), the beneficiaries, the local elected representatives, NGOs, etc., the Ministry sponsors training and awareness programmes in different states.

Solar PV Lighting Systems through Bank Loans

In the last few years, several rural banks have started sanctioning loans to individuals for purchase of solar lighting systems. In order to expand the market driven activity, during the year the Ministry  of New and Renewable Energy introduced a pilot scheme to encourage the banks to increase the coverage of solar lights through commercial loans.

Under this scheme, the Ministry provides incentives to the banks, specially the regional rural banks for some of the promotional activities such as capacity building, awareness generation and preparation of manual for procedures, software and other specified activities to extend loans to consumers to purchase solar home lighting and other solar systems for powering small loads. During the year 16 Regional Rural Banks from Bihar (1), Haryana (2), Jharkhand (1), Karnataka (1), Maharastra (1) Rajasthan (1) and Uttar Pradesh (9) have proposed to sanction loans for 1,19,000 Solar PV systems. These banks have 3,687 branches in 133 districts. By December 2009, 37,865 loans have been sanctioned and Solar PV systems installed by rural banks.

Solar Financing for Rural Areas by Banks

http://www.tatabpsolar.com/press_spotlight.html

Aryavart Gramin Bank:

Aryavart Gramin Bank, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) is a regional rural bank. The bank uses solar photovoltaic (PV) systems from Tata BP Solar to back-up the unreliable grid power for some of its branches and recognised the potential of PV for its many off-grid customers in rural areas. The Bank finances Tata BP Solar Venus Lights with easy finance loans. The bank has been working in 6 districts across UP spreading awareness about solar power systems. The Bank has held service camps, awareness programmes and village meetings to promote Solar lights which have been priced affordably. The villagers pay a small amount to the bank to get the solar lights installed. The bank finances the remaining amount which is paid back by the beneficiary in monthly installments over three to five years. The bank appoints village promoters who are paid Rs 500/-per 100 lights per month as incentive. The promoters are responsible for both maintaining the lights as well as collecting the money. They are paid a bonus of Rs 4000/- at the end of the year if they meet their targets. The Bank has financed more than 8000 lights.
______________________________________________________________________
http://www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/islp/


Indian Solar Loan Programme
A four-year $7.6 million effort was launched in April 2003 to help accelerate the market for financing solar home systems in southern India. The project is a partnership between UNEP Energy Branch,UNEP Risoe Centre (URC) , two of India's major banking groups - Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank, and their sponsored Grameen banks.


India's solar PV manufacturing sector has grown significantly since the 1990s, mostly for export, however the market for solar home systems has been slow to develop, in part due to a lack of consumer financing options. The aim of this effort is to help Canara bank and Syndicate bank develop lending portfolios specifically targeted at financing solar home systems (SHS). With the support of the UN Foundation and Shell Foundation, the project provides an interest rate subsidy to lower the cost to customers of SHS financing.



Indian banks are these days keen to develop new loan products and the partnership with UNEP allows them to do so in a growing clean energy sector. An interest subsidy helps them to build solar financing portfolios without distorting the credit risk - sometimes a problem with guarantees - or the existing cash market for solar home systems. Five solar vendors completed the programmes' qualification process, making their customer eligible for financing. About 20,000 loans were disbursed  through large number of branches of these banks.

Bank of Maharashtra and SEWA Bank also have programmes for  solar finance.

NET METERING : Celebrate Energy Conservation Week

To: d_agarwal@dga-group.com
Copy: rkantjha@gmail.com

India vows to reduce carbon emission intensity 20-25% by 2020!!

And we as Indians should do our bit to achieve it.

As we all know, the highest contributor to the carbon emissions is Electricity Usage and Generation. Hence, Energy Conservation not only plays crucial part in reducing the emissions, but also reduces depletion of natural fuels. Energy Conservation is need of the hour and key to Environmental well being. Energy Conservation is a noble cause and it is been upheld all over India and Globally.

We at Reliance Energy are celebrating the Energy Conservation Week from December 14th to December 20th. On behalf of Demand Side Management Department and Reliance Energy, we wish you a Happy Energy Conservation Week!! On this occasion we all should resolve to support and adopt the cause of Saving our Planet by conserving energy.

Let’s spread this message to all near and dear once and wish them a Happy Energy Conservation Week by sending an E-card. By wishing them show that you Care!, for them, for our society and for the Environment.

Warm Regards,

Pramod Deo
Demand Side Management
Reliance Infrastructure Ltd.

comments:

mohan said...

net metering should be encouraged in cities like Mumbai too , where consumption of energy is at it's peak. Reliance should encourage all it's consumers for grid tied solar power . Every drop for the ocean of power crisis should be encouraged .Consumer too would enjoy the benefit of saving their money and in turn the envoirment .

Sandeep said...

Very interesting.
Would like to know about it - and will return to your posts later.

Sandeep
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bijlee/

NET METERING : Intensive utilisation of Sunlight in the Night

Dear Mr. Jha,

What we need is "distributed generation" and not large "centralised generation". As a utility  company, you can facilitate this by ensuring "NET METERING" (two way metering), at each and every consumer end (however small he may be), to enable him to generate electricity by "clean renewable resources".

Stop empty slogans and do something concrete to save the planet, else your children will "CURSE" you for the dooms day.

I am copying this message to my friend Mr. R. K. Jha in Delhi to have this be heard in the corridors of power in New Delhi and to Reliance Infrastructure Ltd in Mumbai  fto consider an  industrial base to the idea.

Regards

DEVENDRA AGARWAL

DGA-KMG ENERGY PVT LTD

MUMBAI 400063 - INDIA

Tel: +91 (22) 28402995 

Cell + 91 9820192863

Sunlight in the Night can be seen on Trade India, which is India's largest B2B marketplace

Sunlight  in the Night is  a leading powerhouse committed to bring Solar Energy to the Power Starved  population of India.  Realising its potential, Trade India,  India's largest B2B marketplace, has decided to work in collaboration with the firm to fulfill its social and promotional activities.

Link for how to build a solar panel

http://www.solar-deals.com/pdf/DIY%20Solar%20Panel%2060%20Watt%20-%20Tutorial.pdf

Ravi Pradhan, an NRI, to start 5 MW Solar plant in Nagpur

Ravi Pradhan, a non-resident Indian (NRI) with roots in Nagpur, wants to  set up solar power plants in Nagpur district. He has set up a private limited company along with local associates.  

And, on July 7, 2010  he unveiled a plan to build a 5MW photo voltaic plant and, subsequently, a solar thermal power plant with up to 50 MW generating capacity.  Pradhan, the founder of the company, did his schooling in Nagpur and later graduated in mechanical engineering from VRCE (now known as VNIT). 

Starting his career with Hindustan Motors, Pradhan later shifted to the US where he did his post graduate studies and worked for top American companies, including Bechtel, which is a global player in solar energy technology. He is one of the few experts in nuclear energy field and hopes to contribute in the sector which has thrown open after the Indo-US nuclear pact signed last year. “The over-dependence on fossil fuels has led to problems of climate change, greenhouse gasses and pollution. 

Moreover, the BP oil spill in southern coast of US has devastated lives of millions of people there and necessitated a hard look at renewable, clean energy alternatives,” said Pradhan. Having gained rich experience in energy sector he now wants to contribute to his mother nation and Nagpur was the obvious choice. “Fortunately, like most of India, Vidarbha is in the yellow belt with sunny days of around 300 days a year,” said Pradhan. So, Pradhan Energy Projects Pvt Ltd (PEPPL) has started looking for land to start the 5 MW photovoltaic (PV) plant. 

“For setting up PV panels, we will need at least 25 acres of land. We have decided to buy directly through negotiations with land owners at the prevailing market rate and not depend on government acquired land. The idea is to earn their goodwill. Not only will we pay them the market price but also provide direct employment to 250 locals at the plant,” said Prakash Kulkarni, ex technical director of MSEB, who joined PEPPL as project director. Admitting that the initial investment for solar plant is much higher that conventional coal-fired plant, Pradhan says a PV plant costs Rs 18 crore to produce 1 MW. 

Solar Street Light in Chakauti

Guidelines for Rooftop and Other Small Solar Power Plants

There are large number of areas in India (including our village Chakauti) without access to electricity. Rest of the country is suffering from Power Shortage. Huge quantities of Kerosene and Diesel is used for lighting and power generation. And still, there is darkness all around. Therefore,  rapid  tapping of Solar Energy resources  is essential for sustenance in the country. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission announced in January 2010   with this purpose has laudable objectives  to fulfill.  Besides production of 1000 MW Solar Energy to be supplied through Grids, there is a proposal to create 200 MW Off Grid Solar Energy through Rooftop and Other Smaller Solar Power Plants, which  gives the possibility of greater access to the common people  and smaller entrepreneurs.  In this connection the Guidelines issued by Government of India on June 16, 2010 are very important. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited(IREDA) which has been declared the "Programme Administrator" for Rooftop and Other Small Solar Power Plants by the Government of India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has issued guidelines for Rooftop and Other Small Solar Power Plants.  These Guidelines can be viewed at the following website :

  
http://mnre.gov.in/pdf/jnnsm-g170610.pdf

Sufferings in power-starved Bihar : Solar Energy: a lovely dream

As the mercury soars to 40 degrees Celsius and above, traditional cooling with hand fans to beat the heat is the only way out  in the power-starved Bihar.   People are forced to live in the lantern age. A running fan is a luxury there.  Electricity, wherever it is there, fails regularly. 

All towns, districts and villages are hit badly due to  lack of power. If there is power at night, it is considered a gift for the few who have electricity connections for a few hours.Power shortages have sparked protests in several places in the state. Electricity offices have been attacked in towns while protest marches have been taken out.

Bihar faced a deficit of more than 1,000-1,200 MW of power a day. Bihar faces a serious power crisis due to shortage of supply from the central grid.  Bihar produced 100-120 MW a day from its two thermal power units at Barauni in Begusarai and Kanti in Muzaffarpur district. The state is dependent on central grid for power. Bihar needs 2,200-2,500 MW of power a day but gets less than 900 MW from the central  pool despite a daily allocation of 1,646 MW.


Compare this with the targets set for 2022 by  Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission for solar power installation in the country targeting  20,000 megawatt (Mw) of solar power for which several  companies are investing over Rs 1,00,000 crore. Proposals worth over Rs 1.2 lakh crore under the Special Incentive Package Scheme from solar and photovoltaics (PV) manufacturers were received in 2009.

 To make solar power attractive, project developers have been offered a 10-year tax holiday for photovoltaic (PV) and thermal solar plants set up by 2020, reduced customs duty and zero excise duty on specific capital equipment, critical materials and project imports, besides loans at cheap interest rates. As per the Generation Based Incentive programme, the Government will provide financial assistance of Rs 12 per unit in case of solar photovoltaic and Rs 10 per unit in case of solar thermal power fed to the electricity grid from a grid interactive solar power plant of a capacity of 1 MW and above for a period of 10 years.  Solar equipment makers will also get several incentives as per Special Incentive Package for setting up integrated solar manufacturing plants.

There is enormous potential for off-grid PV deployment in India, based on real needs and benefits, in the areas of rural lighting and electrification, for powering irrigation pump sets, back up power generation for the expanding network of cellular towers across the country, captive power generation, urban applications and highway lighting,

Solar energy itself is in a nascent stage in India, with less than 10 mw of installed capacity. India has a total installed generation capacity of almost 1,60,000 mw.

Quantum Leap in Solar Energy Generation

Solar Power Installation in the country is targetted to reach 20,000 megawatt by 2022   —A large number of companies have proposed investments totalling over Rs 1,00,000 crore. Huge incentives offered by the government are irresistible for  business houses.   Solar project  promoters  have lined up huge investments as the opportunities coming up are  very huge. Last year  the government received proposals worth over Rs 1.2 lakh crore under the Special Incentive Package Scheme from solar and photovoltaics (PV) manufacturers.

To make solar power attractive, project developers have been offered many fiscal incentives, including a 10-year tax holiday for photovoltaic (PV) and thermal solar plants set up by 2020, reduced customs duty and zero excise duty on specific capital equipment, critical materials and project imports, besides loans at cheap interest rates. As per the Generation Based Incentive (GBI) programme, the Government will provide financial assistance of Rs 12 per unit in case of solar photovoltaic and Rs 10 per unit in case of solar thermal power fed to the electricity grid from a grid interactive solar power plant of a capacity of 1 MW and above for a period of 10 years.  Solar equipment makers will also get several incentives as per Special Incentive Package (SIP), for setting up integrated solar manufacturing plants.

भारत की सौर ऊर्जा उत्पादन क्षमता विश्व में सर्वप्रथम

India is currently ranked number one  in the world   along with the United States in terms of installed Solar Power generation capacity. 

However, our current output is as low as follows:

• Number of solar street lighting systems: 55,795
• Number of home lighting systems: 342,607
• Solar lanterns: 560,295
• Solar photovoltaic power plants: 1566 kW
• Solar water heating systems: 140 km² 
• Box-type solar cookers: 575,000
• Solar photovoltaic pumps: 6,818     

Govt. has $19 billion plan to produce 20 GW of solar power by 2020  and under the National Action Plan  we have plan to generate 1,000 MW of power by 2013.

We have 300 clear sunny days in a year. Our total theoretical solar power capacity is about 5000 trillion kwhryr ~ 600 TW.  This is far more than our current total energy consumption.

We have  a long  way  to  go in effective production to meet our solar energy needs.

भारत की प्रचुर सौरशक्ति India has abundant Sunshine

 Solar lanterns will light up rural households

The average number of sunny days in India ranges from 250 to 300 days a year, with a solar energy equivalent to or greater than the country’s total energy consumption. Energy efficiency is critical to India's large and growing population. Solar lanterns, which make the most of the country’s natural and abundant sunshine, could be a practical and clean energy alternative to kerosene lamps in village communities. Solar energy has the potential to improve the living conditions of poor rural households in India as well as contribute to the country’s future energy security.

By using solar lanterns, there will be substantial saving compared to the kerosene and electricity costs. Expenditure on kerosene and electricity will drop significantly after solar lanterns are introduced. Each household is likely to make savings ranging from Rs 7,200 to Rs 12,000 approx annually. The solar lanterns will particularly benefit school-aged children and women. With five to six hours of light supplied daily by the solar lanterns, study hours will increase which will have a positive influence on the children’s performance at school. Women will also be able to perform their routine household work both indoors and outdoors during power outages.

The use of solar energy will contribute to India’s future energy security, particularly in rural areas where the technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity offers a decentralised alternative to uncertain electricity supplies.

In India, approximately 70 per cent of rural areas lack electricity. Even out of electrified villages, 70 percent of the villages connected to power grids do not receive power because the power companies redirect electricity to major towns and cities. Over 60 per cent of rural households use kerosene lamps for lighting. Kerosene lamps are not only expensive, they are also inefficient, potentially dangerous and a major source of greenhouse gases.

If implemented efficiently, renewable energy projects could not only improve the quality of life for India’s rural poor but also enhance sustainable use of the environment.

रात का सूरज http://www.mysolarplans.com/solarplans.php

Sun light during night

Capture the sun and save it for the night with a solar light! For decoration or lighting purpose, or both, solar lights come in a variety of models suitable to your specific needs.

Uses: While solar lights come in many styles, all perform the same essential function. A solar light shines in the night without fussy electrical cords crossing around. Take a look at some popular types of solar lights for home usage:

Landscape: Illuminate paths and gardens with a solar light array.

Motion: Safety and security are foremost. This solar light deters prowlers, but also lights the way for you and your guests.

Deck: The party's not over when the sun goes down. These solar lights have stored keep the festivities going deep into the night.

Floodlights: Give your house a gentle wash of solar light to accent its architectural features.

Spotlights: This outdoor solar light put the focus on your home or landscaping. Illuminate a beautiful statue, or keep a dark corner of the yard safely lit.

Hassle Free Energy: Without wires crowding the outdoor sockets, a solar light set keeps the lawn clean and safe for kids. The convenience begins when you set up your solar light. Simply dust off the collecting panels on your solar lights and they will shine through many nights to come. What's more, solar lights have no affect on electricity bills. For safety, landscaping, or both, outdoor solar lights bring the warmth and clarity of the day into the beauty of the night. Consider the numerous models and decide which solar light is right for you. What is an LED?

Solar lights are equipped with LED's.

An LED, or Light Emitting Diode, contains a chemical compound that gives off light when an electric current passes through it. They've been around for many years, but only recently has the technology advanced so that they can be made bright enough to actually use as an independent light source.

How much light does an LED produce?

LEDs put out a tremendous amount of light for their size and energy draw. They create almost no heat and use very little electricity. In general, an LED uses about 1/10th the power of an incandescent bulb and they are up to 90% more efficient than both fluorescent and neon bulbs of similar wattage. Best of all, an LED will last thousands of hours; some have been tested to over 50,000 hours (vs. a standard flashlight bulb that will only last a few hundred hours).

A common mistake is to compare wattage between LED units and their incandescent and fluorescent cousins - wattage is a function of power consumption, not brightness.

What are the advantages of Solar Lighting?

An advantage of buying solar lights is that LED bulbs will never burn out during the lifetime of the product. Low voltage incandescent and fluorescent systems will need bulb replacements often and add cost and inconvenience to the product.

1-2 LEDs(equiv. to a night light):3-5 LEDs (equiv. to a desk light)
6-8 LEDs(equiv. to a porch light):9 LEDs and Up (equiv. to a flash light)

India aspires to be global leader in Solar Energy

In a country with 80,000 impoverished  villages having no access to grid electricity, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  laid out an ambitious plans to make India a global leader in solar power by launching a government initiative to boost use of the solar technology.  Solar can help secure India's energy independence and tackle climate change  as well as offer new opportunities for industry in a country with a crippling shortage of power.

The National Solar Mission, launched in January, 2010   would "establish India as a global leader in solar energy" in the areas of power generation and technology production.  "The rapid spread of solar lighting systems, solar water pumps and other solar power-based rural applications can change the face of our rural energy sector,"

The Solar Mission has the goal of increasing solar energy capacity exponentially to reach 20,000 megawatts for the year 2022, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.  That amount would provide enough power for 20 million homes, with each receiving one kilowatt of power.

 India currently produces just under nine megawatts of solar power, data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) show.    India produces more than 15,000 megawatts of power from all renewable sources, according to the MNRE, with more than 10,000 megawatts from wind power alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India

Solar Energy : Economic Necessity for Indian Villages

The climate change is just one facet of a reality bearing down on India. India's rapid growth comes in an era when cheap, easily available natural resources are gone. This country almost has to follow a different path -- relying on the resource from Sun, above the surface of earth than the one  we could get under our feet -- because that's the only resource available in sufficient quantity. 

India faces a severe coal shortage. Its existing power plants cannot burn imported coal unless it is mixed with domestic. So the more domestic coal it commits to new plants, the sooner it will have to retire its existing fleet. Already, the increase in the world price of coal is driving up the price of cement. Citizen protests have forced the cancellation of a major coal mine and power project in western India, near Mumbai. Efforts to assemble land parcels for industrial facilities are becoming more contentious, with massive protests building. Increasingly, public opinion is mobilizing against even proposals to allow mining companies access to India's reserves of iron ore and bauxite -- because they are under some of the nation's most important remaining forest habitat, because protecting habitat involves a real tradeoff -- unlike the shift to cleaner energy, which is just good business. 

India pays huge sums to import crude oil and then subsidizes kerosene for lighting and cooking, diesel for irrigation pumping, and LPG for cooking -- at enormous cost to the treasury. New proposals are being floated to reduce at least some of these subsidies -- but the idea is enormously controversial because neither the government nor India's poor can afford to rely on oil at today's world market prices.

At the same time, in only a year and a half, this country has shifted into high gear in its engagement on climate. Last year was the hottest on record in India. Rainfall patterns already have been disrupted over the past twenty years. Sea level rise threatens a quarter of the population.  The government doesn't want to sit on the sidelines, and its solar energy mission is already far more ambitious. 

India is not a "mandate from the top" country. There's a strong democratic dialogue here. That can slow things down -- both good things, like massive investments in solar power, and risky things. 

India, which has the greatest unmet need for electricity in the world, have acknowledged that clean energy is an economic necessity and the wave of the future. 

US Solar Energy Mission to India

A Trade Mission on Solar Energy  headed by U.S. Assistant  Commerce Secretary Mary Saunders  visited Banglore in February 2010 .

The Solar Energy mission helped the US solar technology firms to initiate or expand their exports to India. The event was part of Obama Administrations strategic Dialogue to advance commercial ties between India and the US.  The mission visited New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, where  the US Companies received market briefings and meet with Key government decision makers and prospective private sector partners. Bangalore was chosen as a destination due to Karnataka government's progressive renewable energy, including solar, policies and implementation of solar projects.

Affordable Solar Panels

Price of solar panels has fallen down because  price of  poly silicon, an essential material used in those panels and other raw materials has fallen  drastically.  Private sector funds are also targeting firms meeting India’s renewable energy requirements. India is engaged in a vast expansion of power infrastructure to meet the demands of  its rapidly growing economy and provide solar energy to its  vast population  who do not have access to electricity.