‘India has failed to tap solar energy’

The Tribune , Saturday, July 17, 2010
Correspondent : Rakesh Lohumi/TNS
Shimla, July 16

The country is lagging far behind in tapping solar energy for which there is a vast potential, particularly in high altitude Himalayan regions like Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti. This was stated by Dr Rajan Kapur, a US expert in sustainable energy.

“The extent to which this important fact has been neglected could be judged from the fact that Germany added 3,500 MW of solar power last year, the US 350 MW and Australia 100 MW, whereas India managed to add a meagre 30 MW. The comparison becomes more stark when one takes into account the fact that India receives twice the quantum of sunshine that Germany gets,” pointed our Kapur who was in the city in connection with a symposium on power sector reforms and solar power generation in the state.

He expressed hope that launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, as part of the action plan to cope with climate change, would change the situation. It was the first serious initiative for large-scale harnessing of solar power to add 1,000 MW of capacity by 2013. States like Himachal Pradesh could take advantage as high-altitude areas were most conducive to solar power generation even though they might be receiving less sunshine than plains like Rajasthan.

 
SOURCE : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100717/himachal.htm#9
 


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