Tuesday, May 21, 2013: Solar energy might be, in theory at least, the answer to global power woes, but if Indian experts are to be believed, the success or failure of solar technology will depend entirely on the ability of firms entangled in its development to utilize the subsidies that are being doled out by the government.
In a speech, Kamalakara Babu, vice chairman and managing director of the Andhra Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation (Nedcap) said that without making use of these subsidies, it will be difficult for power developers to ease the pressure on traditional sources of power.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 3 kilowatt solar power unit at a local Nedcap office, Babu pointed out that this was the third such unit to have been inaugurated by the state government.
The other two are located in Hyderabad and Karimnagar. The cost of unit which was inaugurated is estimated to be Rs 600,000, half of it will be subsidized by the Union Government, with the state government bearing the cost of the rest.
Solar power has been a topic under much debate, especially in light of the globe’s depleting traditional power resources like coal and water, which have sustained till now.
Most governments, especially power starved ones like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have recently announced a slew of special packages for solar energy development including subsidies and special initiatives.
Babu made a relevant point in his speech and said that it was imperative for the success of the technology that both the power companies and consumers started adopting this technology. He also said that on the development of solar power, the developer could avail a 50 per cent subsidy, out of which 30 per cent would be borne by the union government and the rest by the State. Besides this, the developer would also get exemption by way of electrical duty and wheeling charges.
