Farooq advocates increased use of solar power

KOLAR (KARNATAKA), INDIA: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Thursday exhorted the people and state governments to make optimal utilisation of solar power to minimise the impact of global warming and climate change.

"Karnataka, which has taken a lead in the country by harnessing solar power in a big way, should become a model state for optimal utilisation of such a clear source of energy," Abdullah said dedicating India's first 3 megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Yalesandra village in Bangarpet taluk of Kolar district, about 100 km from Bangalore.

In this context, Abdullah advised the state government to extend the incentive given to domestic users of solar water heaters to institutions, hospitals, hotels, hostels and large power consuming organisations.

Asserting that India started moving forward in utilising solar energy with the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Jan 10, Abdullah said about 1,000 MW of power would be generated through hundreds of solar power plants across the country over the next three years.

"In the second phase, we intend to generate an additional 2,000 MW by 2015 and strive to achieve the target of 20,000 MW by 2022. As more and more players enter the field, the upfront cost of setting up a power plant will reduce to make its energy affordable to all," Abdullah said.

The photovoltaic (PV) cell plant, built in record 10 months by the Hyderabad-based Titan Energy Systems Ltd for the state-run Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) at a cost of Rs.59 crore (Rs.590 million), will generate four million units of power per annum.

Admitting that the upfront cost of setting up a solar power plant was still high - Rs.15 crore for 1 MW, Abdullah said in the long-term electricity from such a clean and inexhaustible energy source would be rewarding in more ways than from fossil fuels and conventional sources.

"Efforts should also be made to ensure LED (light emitting diode) lamps are extensively used for street-lighting, government offices, commercial establishments and households to reduce use of conventional bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) that are less inefficient and power consuming," he said.

Lauding the state for the pioneering effect in the country in using solar power for multiple purposes, Abdullah said Karnataka should construct only green buildings to minimise energy consumption and save foreign exchange on depleting fossil fuels and other sources of energy.

"We are planning to install solar panels at about 200,00 mobile towers across the country in place of diesel gen-sets used to operate them and check their fallout on environment," Abdullah noted.

To reduce use of firewood and cooking gas in preparing mid-day meals for school-going children and at mass feeding centres at religious and other gatherings, Abdullah advocated increasing use of solar cookers and solar heaters.

"Solar cookers are being extensively used at Shirdi in Maharashtra, Mount Abu in Rajasthan and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to prepare meals for about 20,000-25,000 people a day. This should be promoted in a big way to conserve natural resources and depend less on import of fossil fuels," he added.