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An industry body on Tuesday has stressed that government should be promoting small scale solar energy projects in the rural areas at the same pace of encouraging large scale projects. The body also added that this is vital for meeting the target of the generation of 20,000 MW solar power by 2020
"If the government wants to generate 20,000 MW of solar power, large scale projects alone won't do. We have to stress on meeting energy needs of rural areas through solar power," said Ajay Prakash Shrivastava, president of Solar Energy Society of India.
Government has plans for generating 20,000 MW solar power by 2020, with the creation of 100,000 new jobs.
"The government is talking about allocating Rs.91,000 crore to implement this programme and make it mandatory for conventional power producers to generate at least 15 percent through renewable resources," mentioned Shrivastava while addressing the media during the margins of the international conference on renewable energy.
Currently solar panels have the potential for generating 500 MW. But the producers of solar energy have expressed confidence, provided government lends a helping hand.
He also added that more solar energy will definitely help in decreasing the emission levels.
"If a solar plant is clubbed with a coal-based or any other conventional power plant, it can run during the day with the coal-based power kicking in after sunlight fades in the evening. You still save on the fuel and reduce emissions," he said.
"We are not saying that solar energy can replace conventional sources, but it can complement them and make fossil fuels last for a longer time."
