The government is reportedly gearing up to float tenders for an addition of 20 GW solar power capacity. According to TOI successful bidders will be mandated to have production facility to manufacture nearly half the equipment requirement.
The publication notes that the generation capacity will be added over the next three years and is one of the most ambitious programmes undertaken by the government so far, as it seeks to ramp up renewable energy production in the country from around 70 GW to around 225 GW in four years.
The report citing sources notes that the first tender is ready to be issued and addresses concerns related to domestic manufacturing that resulted in India being pulled up at the WTO after the US lodged a complaint at the multilateral agency. As a result, the tweaked plan does not insist on using locally-manufactured panels and modules for the government programme. Instead, companies with manufacturing facility can use the production base for exports to other countries.
The idea is to ensure that the entire production chain is set up in the country as part of the thrust to the Make in India initiative, said a source to the publication.
New and renewable energy secretary Anand Kumar speaking to TOI confirmed plans for addition of 20 GW capacity and said that the government had an ambitious plan that went beyond solar energy to include offshore wind energy. While 32 GW capacity addition is in the pipeline, the ministry of new and renewable energy wants to initiate work on installation of another 40 GW this year.
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