Exports of solar power equipment set to double

Exports of solar power generation equipment from the country are set to double in the next three years. After the Kyoto protocol was signed, several developed countries like Japan, US, UK and Germany are giving top priority to generate solar power and bring down pollution levels in the power generation sector.

These countries are now importing solar power generation equipment from India in a big way, V Bakthavatsalam, vice-president of International Solar Energy Society, and former managing director of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, told Business Standard.

"Three years back only Rs 100 crore worth of solar power generation equipment was exported from the country. Now it has gone up to Rs 600 crore a year and in the next three years exports are expected to be between Rs 1000 crore and Rs 1200 crore a year," he said.

"Owing to low production in the country, several developed nations are outsourcing the procurement of solar power generation equipment," he added.

The demand for solar power generation equipment is slowly picking up within the country also, Bakthavatsalam said.

"At present, the equipment cost is high. If we want to generate 1 MW of power through solar systems, we need to invest about Rs 30 crore. If we can produce the required equipment in a massive scale, the investment cost for a 1-MW power station will be between Rs 5 crore and Rs 10 crore," he said.

"Out of the country's total power generation of 1,00,000 MW, only 4,000 MW has been generated through renewable energy sources like solar, wind and bio-waste. Now the central government has targeted the generation of another 10,000 MW of power by renewable energy sources by 2012," he said.

"India has the best technology and R & D facility in solar power generation. For cooking and water heating solar power is the best alternative and it will be cheaper too,"Bakthavatsalam said.

"In Bangalore city alone about 12,000 families are using solar panels for cooking and water heating, and the Andhra Pradesh government has also made it mandatory to provide for the provision of erection of solar panels at apartments while getting the building plans approved," he said.