Government asks Renewable energy sector to invest in R&D

Renewable energy sector told to invest in R&D
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Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, flanked by Mr B.A. Parmar (left), Senior Director, Suzlon Group of Companies, and Mr Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, at a conference on `Maintaining Green Energy', Chennai on Thursday. —
Our Bureau::: Chennai, April 29
The renewable energy sector, particularly solar energy, should now focus on technology and bringing down costs, said Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy.Addressing a seminar on mainstreaming green energy here on Thursday, he emphasised that the Government was keen on supporting the industry in viable ventures. But he cautioned the industry against bringing in ‘cheap' technology. Go for better technology available with developed countries but also invest in R&D to ensure long-term growth. India needs excellence in renewable energy sector, he said.On development of wind energy, he said the MNRE was now working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to address the delays in getting clearances for setting up wind mills. The industry also needs to look at increasing the mast height, he said.
Grid interactive projects
Mr Deepak Gupta, Secretary, MNRE, said that while the renewable energy sector was largely focussed on grid interactive projects, the ‘off-grid' potential should not be ignored. There was nearly 1,300 MW opportunity in generating power from industrial waste but just about 70 MW has been tapped.The Ministry has decided to support the State Government in its bid to set up cogeneration facilities in the cooperative sector sugar mills with the subsidy eligible for bagasse-based projects, he said.The MNRE is also targeting expansion of solar power sets to power telecom towers which now use diesel powered generators. The MNRE will provide 30 per cent subsidy for the solar power units, Mr Gupta said.
Mr R Christodas Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, said that Tamil Nadu has exploited nearly 100 per cent potential in wind energy sector.As of March, the installed capacity was 4,889 MW out of the estimated potential of about 5,000 MW. But new opportunities were available in tapping wind power more efficiently through repowering – setting up newer and larger capacity wind mills in the place of small capacity units, increasing mast height and tapping new sites including offshore locations.
....by....Bijoy Ghosh from the pages of THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE newspaper