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India looks to be ready to launch massive "Solar Mission" under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Under this National action plan India should install 1,000 MW of solar power every year by 2013. Leading energy experts believe that if this solar expansion goes well it could lead to massive solar power installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the year 2020. That's an ambitious goal for India, which added about 25 megawatts of generation capacity in 2008, according to GTM Research. From 2001 to 2008, the country had erected 143 megawatts of solar energy systems.
In the first phase that should happen between 2010 and 2013 India also plans to install 200 MW of off-grid solar power and cover seven million square metres with solar collectors, and by the end of the final phase in 2022, the government hopes to have 20,000 MW of grid-based solar power, 2,000 MW of off-grid solar power and cover over 20 million square metres with collectors.
In order to start promotion of this highly ambitious project roof-top solar power will be promoted by providing a generation based incentive for self-use as well as putting the power on to the grid.
India is also aware that if it wants to succeed in this ambitious plan it will need specialised and qualified personnel. Therefore India already announced the plans to train at least 1,000 engineers to specialise in the field, and also plans to provide scholarships for 100 engineers to study abroad in the first phase of the mission.
India looks to be making huge steps toward better use of renewable energy sector in satisfying ever-growing energy demand. The coal still remains the most dominant energy source, and India is still heavily depending on fossil fuels to satisfy energy demand. But with plans like this one that obviously have support from government, India renewable sector should provide much more energy in years to come. This is not only good news for India but also for world because India's population is close to a billion, and keeps on growing. More people means also bigger energy demand, and more fossil fuels used to satisfy this energy demand would mean more carbon emissions, and bigger climate change problem.
Solar energy has great potential, and all what it takes next is some initial success with this plan to see India open new renewable energy chapter. In fact if world wants to make this planet more green than first thing that is required is to ensure growth of renewable energy sector in developing countries. India's example if it turns out to be successful could be of great help to other developing countries that seek for ecologically acceptable energy solutions.
It would be certainly interesting to see outcome of this one, and who knows in ten years time we may see yet another major solar energy player, next to China and United States. India certainly has the potential to achieve this.
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