Under-Secretary-General of United Nations Organization and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, today urged Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu to promote solar energy generation in the country.
Dr. Yumkella, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, met Naidu and discussed the issue in detail.
The UN Official stressed on the need for promotion of renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change and its consequences which are emerging as a major threat by the day. He emphasized the need for enhancing solar power generation through collaborative effort of all stakeholders. He complemented the Gujarat Government for their initiative in this regard. Dr. Yumkella noted that India has great potential in this regard.
Naidu, while agreeing with the concerns and suggestions of Dr. Yumkella, gave an account of the initiatives taken by the Government of India in the matter.
Naidu said his ministry has recently come out with a policy of achieving 100 MW of solar power generation through roof top solar panels to be installed over the buildings owned and managed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) across the country.
He also referred to the initiatives of replacing halogen lamps with LED bulbs which has substantial potential of saving power.
Experts accompanying Dr. Yumkella said that efforts are on to promote increase use of solar panels and related equipment by reducing their weight to 20 percent of the present load per square meter.