JOIN USGovt may allot $3.1 bn for making solar cells
The Centre is working on a $3.1-billion worth package to encourage companies to set up solar cells and modules manufacturing industry.
Under the project, which will be dubbed as ‘Pradhan Mantri Yojana for Augmenting Solar Manufacturing,’ the government will not only fullfil the domestic needs of clean energy equipment but also create an export industry.
To create employment
The new programme is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make In India campaign to meet the domestic requirement of equipment as well as create employment.
As per the plan, the government is planing to create five gigawatts of photovoltaic manufacturing capacity from 2019 and build 20 gigawatts of projects in the country by 2026, sources in the government told DH. Integrated solar manufacturing units will produce everything from solar cells, solar photovoltaic modules, ingots and wafers.
Earlier, New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Rajya Sabha that India imported $2.34 billion solar cells and modules equipment, and of which 84% are from China alone.
The NDA government has set an ambitious target of adding 175 GW power generation capacity by 2022 from renewable sources including 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydro electric projects.