International Solar Alliance, pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forged on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Paris climate change summit will unlock opportunities for the private sector in clean energy, the government today said.It also asserted that the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) or climate action plan of India which it submitted before the summit will be “impinging” upon the industries post 2020 and the Centre may soon roll out a roadmap for INDCs.
“Government’s involvement in the International Solar Alliance and Mission Innovation, forged on the sidelines of COP 21, will unlock private sector opportunities in clean energy,” Union Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa said at an interactive session on COP21 organised by FICCI here.It may be mentioned here that foundation-laying ceremony of the Interim Secretariat of ISA will be done by Modi and French president Francois Hollande on January 25 at the National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurgaon.
Hollande is the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations this year.The ISA was launched by Modi and Hollande on the sidelines of the United Nations climate summit in Paris last year end.India will provide land and contribute about USD 30 million to build the Secretariat infrastructure of the initiative and support its operation for the next five years.Similarly Mission Innovation, also launched at the COP21 is a coalition to boost clean energy research and development.Lavasa also encouraged the private sector to actively participate in the second phase of ‘Perform, Achieve and Trade’ (PAT) scheme on energy efficiency, increase investments in solar manufacturing and management of municipal solid waste.
With the aim to make the industrial sector energy efficient, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) had launched the PAT scheme last year.“The INDCs of India contains a set of both opportunities and obligations for the Indian Industry,” Lavasa said.He also said that his ministry will look into FICCI’s suggestion of constituting a Working Group to enable the government and private sector work closely in climate policy and planning.Lavasa maintained that his ministry is also consulting with other ministries to quantify targets sector-wise for reduction in emission intensity.Joint Secretary, Environment Ministry, Ravi Shankar Prasad maintained that the INDCs will be impinging upon the industries post 2020.
“The government may soon roll out a roadmap for INDCs,” Prasad said.
He said that an important achievement by India is in realising 12 per cent reduction in GDP emissions intensity (2005-2010) of the targeted 25 per cent reduction (by 2020 from 2005 levels) as per India’s voluntary pledges.Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Tarun Kapoor announced that the renewable power obligations (RPO) targets will be increased to 8 percent in the upcoming National Tariff Policy Amendment.
He emphasised that the International Solar Alliance will open up opportunities for Indian solar players to set up shop in other countries and that the Indian solar landscape will witness a surge in installed capacity after the end of FY 2015-2016.
Source:Niticentral
