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PM Shri Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron and other distinguished world leaders on 11 March, 2018 jointly inaugurated the Founding Conference of International Solar Alliance in New Delhi.
At the event, PM Shri Narendra Modi highlighted India’s target to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy, out of which 100 GW would be solar energy. He noted that 20 GW of solar energy had already been achieved.
PM Shri Modi said that it was essential to harness solar energy. In this context, he pointed towards developing latest technology, reducing solar tariffs, ensuring proper storage technology, mass manufacturing and innovation in the domain.
The PM laid out about ten action points including developing low cost solar energy, increasing scope of solar in energy mix, promoting solar energy based innovations and concessional financing for solar projects.
He said we have started the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programme in India. We will produce 175 gig watts of electricity from renewable sources and 100 gigawatts of electricity production of that will be from solar energy.
We have already achieved the target of 20 gigawatts ofinstalled solar power capacity. In India, more capacity is being added through renewable sources than through the traditional sources of energy.
The objective of the Atal Jyoti Scheme in India is to install solar energy based street lights in those areas where there is a shortage of electricity.Solar Study Lamp Scheme has been providing light to seven million school going children. The results can be even better if we link the solar energy with other technologies. For example, the distribution of 28 crore LED Bulbs by the government not only saved more than $2 billion in the last three years but it also saved 4 gig wattsof electricity. It’s not just that, generation of carbon dioxide was also reduced by 30 million tones, he added.
Shri Modi said we will have to increase the proportion of solar energy in our energy mix. We have to provide concessional financing and less risky finance for solar projects. We will have to develop such regulatory aspects and standards that can provide a new momentum to the development and adoption of solar solutions. Development of consultancy support for bankable solar projects in developing countries will be essential, he said.
The PM said more inclusiveness and partnership should be stressed upon in our efforts. We should create a comprehensive network of centers of excellence that can take into account the local factors and situations. We should look at solar energy policy in the totality of development so that it can make the maximum contribution in achieving the SDGs. We should make the ISA Secretariat strong and professional.
The PM said, “I am confident that if we seek the betterment of the entire world, of the entire mankind then we will be able to forge unity and cohesion in our efforts and objectives like a family. This is the same path through which we can realise the prayer of ancient sages – Tamso MaJyotirgamay – it means ‘let’s move towards light from darkness’”.