INDIA TO MEET THE CHINA SUN CHALLENGE

India Joins China in Plans to Increase Solar Power
Natalie Obiko Pearson, November 13, 2009 (Bloomberg News)

"India is targeting generation of 20,000 megawatts of solar power by 2022, joining China as the two Asian nations that resist emission caps draft plans to boost renewable energy before next month’s global climate change talks.

"India, Asia’s third-biggest energy consumer, is set to unveil its national solar energy plan “in about a week,” Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said [despite the cabinet's delay in approving it on schedule]…"

click to enlarge

"China and India have opposed legally binding caps as industrialized nations seek commitments for programs that will curb the output of gases blamed for global warming...The two fastest-growing major economies balk at emission targets because their energy usage is projected to rise as more people are lifted out of poverty…[M]obilizing the financing [will be the biggest challenge for India in meeting its solar goal]…Solar capacity costs anywhere from 160 million rupees to 200 million rupees per megawatt to install…Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plans to discuss India’s solar plan at talks with U.S. President Barack Obama…

"…[India’s] plan will be presented at next month’s climate talks in Copenhagen, where nations will see it as a sign of India’s commitment to curb emissions. Delegates from 192 nations will try to reach agreement on a global accord in the Danish capital to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol…[India] currently generates about three megawatts of solar power…China, which is preparing to more than double its output of alternative energy, may [also] increase its solar capacity to 20,000 megawatts by 2020…The U.S. has urged India to “leap-frog” past developed countries and create a more energy-efficient infrastructure to become a world leader in clean technology industries…"

click to enlarge

"India’s solar mission is one of eight programs proposed in the National Action Plan on Climate Change announced by Singh in June 2008. Its objectives include increasing solar power generation, improving energy efficiency and enhancing carbon sinks, which help to absorb greenhouse gases…Singh said Nov. 6 the government isn’t ready to quantify the emission reduction Asia’s third-biggest economy would achieve through these efforts...India says its per-capita output of carbon will remain less than that of rich nations.

"India plans to double its current installed electricity generation capacity of 153,694 megawatts by 2017. Renewable sources of power, including wind energy and small hydroelectric projects, account for about 8 percent of current capacity…"