New Delhi: India is working on a plan to form an association of countries with high solar power potential, aimed at lowering the cost of solar energy and improving the country’s standing at the global climate change and environment protection discussions. The proposal aims to bring together 56 countries with more than 300 days of good solar radiation. The move follows India substantially revising an earlier target of achieving 20,000 megawatts (MW) solar power capacity by 2022 to 100,000MW, requiring an investment of around Rs.6.5 trillion over five years. In May, the World Trade Organization (WTO) set up a dispute settlement panel after the US complained that certain provisions mandating use of local inputs in India’s solar power generation programme were not compatible with multilateral trade rules. “The idea is to have common standards and research and development so that the prices come down,” said a person aware of the development requesting anonymity. The latest move also comes in the backdrop of the US and China inking a climate change deal wherein the US will reduce its emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 level by 2025 and China will reach the peak of its harmful carbon dioxide emissions around 2030. India has a solar generation capacity of 2,900MW. Of India’s installed power generation capacity of 254,049.49MW, power generated from renewable sources accounts for only 12.47%, or 31,692.14MW. A senior government official, who also didn’t want to be identified, confirmed India’s strategy and said, “The idea is to have India in a leadership role. The concept is ready and has been prepared by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). It will be circulated for consultation.” “Most of the countries that receive good days of solar radiation are near the equator and are not big economies. We have some technology and the cost of manufacturing here is low. Such an association will strengthen our position and improve our profile at the world stage by showcasing our commitment towards the renewable energy sector,” added the government official quoted above. The government has an ambitious plan to locally manufacture as many as 181 products currently imported at a cost of at least $18.1 billion, Mint reported on 19 November. The plan is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make In India” programme to boost local manufacturing and create jobs. While inaugurating the campaign, Modi had said India should become a part of the global value chain. Queries emailed to an MNRE spokesperson on 26 November remained unanswered till press time. India fell to 142 of 189 economies in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, from 131 last year. It’s ranked 76 of 143 nations in the Global Innovation Index 2014, published by Cornell University, and 71 of 144 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. Modi has actively tried to lift India’s image overseas and has participated at multilateral summits such as Group of 20 countries, Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), East Asia Summit (EAS) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change recommends the country generate 10% of its power from solar, wind, hydropower and other renewable sources by 2015, and 15% by 2020, up from 12.47% now. The government’s strategy to focus on renewables also stems from the fact that India has an energy import bill of $150 billion, which is expected to reach $300 billion by 2030. India imports 80% of its crude oil and 18% of its natural gas needs.