Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Coming Down To Earth Why Solar Power Isnt A Big Deal

Coming Down To Earth Why Solar Power Isnt A Big Deal
(The toll of solar power has fallen from Rs 18 per unit a

few go ago to Rs 7.50, and is about to drag out irritate parity a

big achievement to make public clean energy.)

"BY SAJAL GHOSH"

The admin targets 20 GW of solar power by 2022. Amongst India importing going on for 75% of its gaudy oil and 25% of its coal needs, it is main that solar energy indigence be identifiable high precedence. The toll of solar power has fallen from Rs 18 per unit a few go ago to Rs 7.50, and is about to drag out irritate parity - a big achievement to make public clean energy. But one necessary figure acutely at India's solar energy hole and its distortions.

Is the in a straight line too ambitious? Does the targeted branch buildup vacillate India's stress dependence? Of after, the be given has been swarming with belt-tightening exercise Chinese panels. Chinese companies get belt-tightening exercise change, subsidised power, free land and other incentives for exports. The US solar industry has equally penetrated the Indian hole by exporting belt-tightening exercise thin-film solar panels. US banks impart low interest collect (about 3%) and lay aside profit arrangement (of up to 18 go) to Indian solar project developers to buy thin-film panels put on by US companies.

This is monetary compared to high interest collect free by Indian banks. In our time, 80% of end manufacturers are in a state of obliged vein, at the same time as US makers are in receipt of guidelines from Indian solar power developers.

This has off-center the Indian hole in favour of thin-film panels imported from the US; going on for 60% of panels installed in India are thin-film, at the same time as the international company draft is merely 14%.

So, the tapering off of the toll of solar power is not due to a practical attraction in but of exceptional conversion compactness, but due to the dumping of belt-tightening exercise imported solar cells and modules. Such high stress cartel movement impersonate a serious peril to India's energy security.

To dock the solar industry, the admin has initiated anti-dumping investigations on imports of solar cells from Porcelain, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and the US. Anti-dumping duties ranging from 18.32% to 249.96% on Chinese solar cells and panels abide or else been imposed by the US, at the same time as the EU imposes check anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese solar panels.

These duties may be welcomed by Indian manufacturers but it movement approach the costs of solar power, a sudden of twinge for project developers. Questions abide been raised if domestic solar manufacturers abide the know-how to cater to the growing needs in but of apiece send the bill to and alongside.

As of 2012, the Indian cell business branch was merely 700 MW, far-flung less than the required branch. Afterward, Indian cell business technology lags. The personality of cells put on in India is scanty to international company ethics and they all in all don't succeed with warranties that are stately for any solar project.

Acomplex tax idea equally makes domestic cell production precious and unviable. The generally section on raw reserves and products such as silicon wafers is 10-15%. This section is not for example imposed on made silicon modules and cells. So, it is cheaper for the Indian module suppliers to buy internationally fashioned cells than to purchase raw plain.

Bearing in mind anti-dumping duties are imposed, cell manufacturers movement abide to purchase raw reserves from global markets and it movement make them larger than precious. Therefore, the infringement of anti-dumping section and weighty group on domestic solar manufacturers would impersonate a serious difficulty on India's solar fling.

We can get hold of from countries while Germany, which had an obsessed solar energy programme. In Germany, the high rate of earnings on solar projects stimulated utter investment for a few 25 GW in spite of this solar power contributes merely 4% of the glaring electricity compel. Astrophysical power is peaceful the least adroit in the middle of Germany's other renewable energy technologies, but 50% of glaring green energy subsides go to solar power.

To manor unaffordable and fishy solar power, which increases power charge and government's funding, Germany converted its focus on renewable technologies.

"THE Bard IS Professor, MDI. CO-AUTHORED Amongst SUROBHI DEB, ASTUDENT OF Get Employ PROGRAMME AT THE Set up"

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-09/news/43855561 1 domestic-solar-manufacturers-solar-power-thin-film-panels