India’s renewable power installation to touch 80,000 MW by 2032-Minister for new and Renewable Energy

The grid interactive renewable power installed capacity in India would reach 80,000 MW by 2032 from 11000 MW as of now, contributing to 10 per cent of the total energy generation in the country, according to Mr Vilas Muttemwar, Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

The Minister was inaugurating the “Energy India-2007” organized by the PHD Chamber today in Delhi, which focuses on Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency. He said that India has one of the largest programs in renewable energy in the world. "We are working for facilitating the implementation of a broad spectrum program covering the entire range of new and renewable sources," he added. In this regard, he pointed out that alternate fuels namely hydrogen, synthetic fuels and bio-fuels have been identified as thrust areas.

Mentioning that his Ministry is in the process of preparing the Hydrogen Energy Road Map under the leadership of Mr Ratan Tata, eminent industrialist, Mr Muttemwar assured that the Government was fully convinced about the need for involvement of the private sector in augmenting the generation in renewable space. A bio-diesel policy was also under formulation to encourage the bio-fuels mainly in the transportation sector.

The Minister said that India ranked fourth in the world regarding wind energy generation, which has an installed capacity of 7700 MW. Most of the generation of wind energy is in the hands of the private sector. Financial incentives and the facilitating role of the Ministry had helped augmentation of the generation capacity. In the case of solar energy, he mentioned that solar collector area of around 2 million square meters have been installed for various applications. "We expect to add another 10 million square meters during the next five years," he said adding that thermal hot water systems are greatly encouraged and some states are mandating the use of such applications and also providing liberal tax incentives.

The Minister opined that there is significant opportunity in the industrial sector for producing electricity and thermal energy simultaneously in the co-generation mode and added that there is a potential for generation of about 15,000 MW through co-generation in various industries.

The speech of the Minister was read out, in absentia, by Mr Sukumaran, Advisor, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Rakesh Bakshi, Managing Director, Vestas RRB India Ltd has called for more imaginative fiscal sops to popularize renewable sources of energy, which is carbon free and does not lead to global warming. The accelerated depreciation, which is presently granted on equipment and plant for renewable sources of energy, was not adequate, since the initial capital cost for installation is higher in renewable space. He said that wind energy would continue to drive the renewable energy sector, since India was mostly suited to tap that resource. He however, added that renewable energy sector in India lags considerably behind compared to other countries like Germany and Sweden. Referring to the forward linkages of the wind energy, he added that the entire belt where his company has set up the wind energy plants, off Madurai in Tamil Nadu, has developed.

Mr. Sukumaran unfolded various incentives being given by the Government for promoting alternative sources of energy, which is critical to bring down the oil import bill. He also referred to the co – generation projects, which are being promoted by the Government. He clarified that it was not the intention of the Government to replace the conventional energy. " Alternate sources of energy is meant to supplement the conventional sources of energy," he added.

Mr. Sanjay Bhatia, President, PHD Chamber said that India’s energy intensity per unit of GDP was higher than Japan, USA and Asia. He also called for cutting down the consumption of fossil fuel for minimizing the green house gas. That can be achieved only by seriously pursuing sustainable energy solutions.

Mr. Ajay Poddar, Chairman, Energy Committee, PHD Chamber called for an environment conducive to the growth of renewable sources of energy and a stable policy uniform to all the states. Lacing some of the problem areas in the sector, he said that high cost of technology, lack of emphasis on R&D, slow pace of electricity reforms, ambiguity in policy etc are holding back the growth of the sector.

While proposing the vote of thanks, Ms Kranti Priya Mitra, Co-Chairman, Energy Committee, PHD Chamber said that the Chamber would continue to provide a unique platform to industry, policy makers and others to interact on issues relegating the renewable energy space.