A total capacity of 13,184 MW has been
established up to January, 2011

Solar Energy is yet to take off on a
large scale for power generation.

The main objective of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar
Mission is to establish India
as a global leader in solar energy, by creating policy conditions for its rapid
diffusion across the country quickly and achieve a scale, large enough to drive
down costs to levels required to achieve grid parity by 2022. The Mission
targets include (i) deployment of (a) 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power
by 2022, (b) 2,000 MW of off-grid solar applications including 20 million solar
lights by 2022, (c) 20 million sq. m. solar thermal collector area, (ii)
creation of favourable conditions for developing solar manufacturing capability
in the country; and (iii) supporting R&D and capacity building activities
to achieve grid parity by 2022. The Mission
would be implemented in three phases. Government has also approved a target to
set up 1,100 MW grid connected solar plants, including 100 MW capacity plants
as rooftop and other small solar power plants for the first phase of the
Mission till March 2013. In addition, a target of 200 MW capacity equivalent
off-grid solar applications and 7 million m2 solar thermal collector area has
also been approved.

Though India
has ambitious plans to harness Renewables,sustained efforts both politically
and financially are needed to realize the targets.

Dr.A.Jagadeesh 
Nellore(AP),India

Wind energy Expert

E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com