India’s Solar Plan

Why in news?

The Prime Minister inaugurated the ‘Asia’s largest solar power project’ in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.

What is the significance?

• This project inauguration sends a signal that India remains serious about clean energy.
• India’s solar installed capacity is at about 40 GW today.
• This is in short of its goal of achieving 100 GW by 2022.

Why the pace of capacity additions has slowed?

• This happened after the imposition of safeguard duty on solar cells and modules from China and Vietnam with effect from August 2018.
• The two-year period for which this duty was imposed ends in a few days.
• Amidst a policy of Atmanirbharat, reports suggest that this levy may be continued in the form of a regular tariff.

Why costs are higher now?

• Notably, China accounted for over 75% of India’s cell and panel imports at least before the imposition of safeguard duties.
• The remaining gap was plugged by Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• A ‘manufacturing-linked tender’ given by the Solar Energy Corporation of India in January was based on a tariff of ₹2.92/kWh.
• This tender is more than contracts awarded sometime ago, based on a tariff of about ₹2.50/kWh.
• This new tariff has made the India’s costs are higher now.
• It is not yet clear to what extent the cells and wafers will be indigenously sourced in such cases.
• Domestically produced modules are 33% more expensive than their Chinese counterparts are.
• The cost of the raw materials is estimated to account for a major share of the cost difference.

What is India’s capacity?

• At present, India is estimated to have a module manufacturing capacity of 9 GW and a cell making capacity of 3 GW.
• Ironically, the indigenous manufacture of Photo Voltaic (PV) modules calls for a reliable supply of electricity.
• While China leads the world in PVs, making two-thirds of the world’s modules, the EU is trying to make a comeback.

What should India do?

• India has a long road to traverse if it is to be both cost-effective and self-reliant in this sector.
• Given the ecological obligations, India should shift to non-hydro renewables soon.
• It is a sobering thought that solar power accounts for just 3.6% of India’s electricity generated, and 9.8% of the total installed capacity.
• India should take a leaf out of China’s policy book, and create the right demand and supply ecosystem.
• The PM-KUSUM scheme is a notable step in this respect.

Source: Business Line

Quick Facts

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)

• The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• It has a target to set up 25,750 megawatts (MW) solar capacity by 2022 to power irrigation pumps.
• The approved scheme comprises of three components:
  1. Setting up of 10,000 MW of decentralised ground / stilt-mounted grid connected solar or other renewable energy based power plants
  2. Installation of 17.5 lakh standalone solar agriculture pumps
  3. Solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar agriculture pumps.