Solar is not only sustainable, but widely expected to be the power that the world will harness in a big way in the coming years — stepping up power supply and bringing down the cost. India will not lag behind, considering Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a personal interest in setting up and developing solar plants.
Under his chairmanship, the cabinet committee on economic affairs on Wednesday approved doubling the capacity of the scheme for development of solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects.
The capacity will be enhanced from 20,000 MW to 40,000 MW. This will allow at least 50 solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW and above, to be set up in different parts of the country.
The push by the Prime Minister apart, the enhancement is driven by demand from the states.
The cabinet also decided that smaller parks, particularly in terrains where acquiring contiguous land will be difficult, will be considered under the solar park and ultra mega solar power projects, slated to be set up in 2019-20. The parks will also cumulatively help reduce 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission.
The Centre has allocated Rs 8100 crores for this project.
About 34 solar parks, with an aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW, were launched in December 2014. They are being overseen by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Apart from contributing to long term energy security, ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon emissions and carbon footprint, and generating large direct and indirect employment opportunities in solar and allied industries, the solar parks will use uncultivable lands.
