Amidst shortage of conventional energy sources, the government today said it will soon announce a National Solar Mission to electrify rural areas.
"Many villages are still without power. They can be electrified either through solar or wind energy. Today solar power is very expensive costing Rs 15 per unit and we are making all efforts to bring it down," Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said in the Lok Sabha.
With regard to Ladakh and Kargil areas, the minister said that a lot of work has been done to look at various options including geo-thermal, wind and solar energy.
"We are trying to harness hydro and solar power in these areas which is better suited than other sources of energy," he said during the Question Hour.
Abdullah said he would meet all Chief Ministers to ensure that solar energy is tapped in each state and incentives are given for the purpose. On the part of the Centre, tax sops are available for fixing solar panels, he said.
The minister said solar panels are expensive as silicon is used in it but a research in California has come out with a solar panel without silicon and that may reduce the cost.
But even otherwise, he said, the Centre was giving various concessions and the UPA government wanted to see more villages using solar or wind energy.
Abdullah said since the solar power is available only during the day time, efforts are on to find out ways on how to store it for usage during night.
"We want to see how electricity can be given when there is no sun. We hope of a major breakthrough in this," he said.
Not only storage, the government is working on how to provide uninterrupted flow of electricity, he said.
"The government is promoting development of renewable energy sector through a mix of fiscal and financial incentives that include capital/interest subsidy, accelerated depreciation, nil/concessional excise and customs duties," the minister said.
He also said preferential tariff for grid interactive renewable power is being given in many states.
The government has set a target of about 20 MW and 50 MW for the generation of power from solar energy in the 10th and 11th five year plan periods, he added.
