Aug 30 2010
The New and Renewable Energy Ministry of India has declared the signing of power purchase agreements for solar power production capacity of 100 MW to augment solar power production in the country.
During the declaration ceremony Farooq Abdullah, Minister for Renewable Energy, said that his ministry in response to their expressions of interest has received more than 300 applications from diverse companies for building 700MW solar projects.
Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah launching a new website on Green Buildings of the Ministry, in New Delhi
Earlier the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission had advocated the execution of 20,000 MW solar power installed capacity, before the completion of the 13th Five year plan which ends in the year 2022. The ambitious program planned for implementation in three stages involved installation of 1,100 MW grid connected and 200 MW of off grid solar power modules before March 2013 by utilizing both solar thermal as well as solar photovoltaic technologies. The ministry also confirmed about 12,000 MW wind power generating projects that are under consideration and announced its plans to increase the wind power generation up to 48,000 MW in 15 to 20 years period.
The minister also has put an end to the raised controversy of utilizing Chinese equipments for solar installations and said that India is not averse to importing Chinese equipments but requires the best equipments. He however added that the government is looking forward to giving preference to equipments manufactured indigenously.