Indian Govt. Initiatives in Solar

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy. The broad aim of the Ministry is to develop and deploy

New & Renewable Energy: Estimated potential and cumulative achievements as on 31.03.2008


BENGALURU, India — In a country where millions of people worship the sun, the government has launched a "National Mission on Solar Energy" that seeks to tie India's economic development to energy efficiency

We must pioneer a graduated shift from economic activity based on fossil fuels to one based on non-fossil fuels and from reliance on non-renewable and depleting sources of energy to renewable sources of energy," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The sun occupies a center stage, as it should, being literally the original source of all energy."

Singh said India seeks "to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power our economy and to transform the lives of our people."

The ministry is seeking to generate at least 10 percent of India's power from solar energy over the next several years.


With solar photo voltaic (PV) system the initial investment is equivalent of about 18-20 crores for one MW of generating capacity, nearly five times of conventional power. SWH is a feasible option but here also cost factor is involved .so the cost factor is one of the reason for not taking off using of solar energy.

According to Ministry of New and Renewable Resources (MNRR) “100 liters of solar water heating system can replace an electric unit in a residence and save over 1500 units of power every year and 1000 such units save peak load demand of about 1MW. This is apart from environmental benefit preventing 1.5 tonnes of Co2 emissions a year. But family has to spend 25,000 to install system. A comparable electrical system cost a fifth of that price which is preferred option even if initial cost of a solar water heating system could be recovered in three years.


The government makes laws to make it mandatory for SWH in wide category of buildings hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, hostels and individual buildings of more than 150 sq meter plinth area, in railway station and airports. And there is an income tax benefits for using solar water heaters. Even though Government of India and states have made laws, there is low response because of lack of awareness and the high initial costs of the equipments for tapping solar energ