India Announces National Solar Mission

I really must share this news with readers of Photonics.com! Last month, the buzz at the Solarcon India 2009 at Hyderabad was all about the government of India's National Solar Mission Plan. A lot of companies and investors have been waiting patiently for its release.

Well, the D-day has arrived. The government of India has made public the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission document. (Interested folks can download the document from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's Web site.)

Let's take a look at the mission targets. These are:

To create an enabling policy framework for the deployment of 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022.
To ramp up capacity of grid-connected solar power generation to 1000 MW within three years – by 2013; an additional 3000 MW by 2017 through the mandatory use of the renewable purchase obligation by utilities backed with a preferential tariff. This capacity can be more than doubled – reaching 10,000MW installed power by 2017 or more, based on the enhanced and enabled international finance and technology transfer. The ambitious target for 2022 of 20,000 MW or more, will be dependent on the ‘learning’ of the first two phases, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power. The transition could be appropriately up scaled, based on availability of international finance and technology.
To create favourable conditions for solar manufacturing capability, particularly solar thermal for indigenous production and market leadership.
To promote programs for off grid applications, reaching 1000 MW by 2017 and 2000 MW by 2022.
To achieve 15 million square meters solar thermal collector area by 2017 and 20 million square meters solar thermal collector area by 2022.
To deploy 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas by 2022.

I believe I've posted a lot of information on India's solar photovoltaics industry over the past few months. Those looking to invest in India -- now is the time. All of those major targets are posted in front of you!! Think market, think both grid and off-grid applications, think capacity, think solar, think solar LED lanterns, and so on and so forth. You are sure to make it big!

Pradeep

Dec. 3, 2009