Tuesday, November 26, 2013: Pranav R Mehta, chairman of the National Solar Energy Federation in India (NSEFI) was in Qatar to make a presentation on “Converting solar dreams into reality in India- Sharing the Experience.” He said that a resourceful gas-rich nation like Qatar could emulate the successful strides that India has made in solar energy.
Mehta also pointed out that some regions in India are making great advances in producing solar energy and have similar climatic and topographic conditions as that of Qatar. Thereby, it could be beneficial for them to take tips from the successes that India has witnessed in such a short period.
“India made a small beginning in solar energy less than four years ago and in such a short time the country developed more than 2,080MW,” Mehta told Gulf Times while explaining the South Asian country’s march towards solar since 2009. Reportedly, Qatar plans to develop 200MW of solar power by 2020 and hopes to have one-third of its total installed power capacity from solar by 2030.
“An extremely interesting potential exists for synergy in the area of solar energy between India and Qatar in view of India’s experience of having achieved 2.1GW solar capacity in a relatively short period of time, Qatar’s ambitious green energy plans as also the ongoing and future ambitious road map of India in solar energy,” added Mehta. “We at the NSEFI are keenly looking forward to working together with Qatar in evolving a comprehensive solar plan – similar to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in India in 2010.”
Mehta also said that the expertise of our skilled and qualified personnel could also be made use of in Qatar.
Qatar, as many other developing countries, is laying stress on education and capacity building and while developing its solar plans the country stands to gain considerably from its association with those who have made strides in the solar field in the last few years, added Mehta.
Mehta also said that India is exploring the possibility of forming joint ventures between manufacturers from the Asian country and the polysilicon facilities being developed in Ras Laffan.
