PM Modi discusses India's RE landscape with US-based solar manufacturer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday discussed India's renewable energy landscape with the head of a prominent US-based manufacturer of solar panels.

India currently has the world's fastest-growing solar energy programme and has expanded access to clean cooking fuel to cover over 80 million households, making it one of the largest clean energy drives globally.

"Powering India's Solar Potential! PM @narendramodi discusses India's renewable energy landscape with Mark Widmar, CEO @FirstSolar," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.

Widmar shared plans to use the Indian government's ambitious production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing solar power equipment with unique thin-film technology and integrating India into global supply chains, the ministry said further.

The Rs 4,500-crore PLI scheme for solar photovoltaic modules is expected to help India ramp up its domestic manufacturing capacity. The scheme is expected to add 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity of integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing plants.

Prime Minister Modi in February had invited global firms to take advantage of the PLI schemes and expand their manufacturing in India.

During his interaction with Widmar, Modi spoke about the one world, one sun and one grid initiative and its potential, sources said.

The prime minister referred to India's ambitious target of 450 GW of renewable energy. He also emphasized on India's focus on manufacturing for solar energy and said that companies in the field of solar energy can take maximum advantage of the PLI schemes, they said.

Modi also spoke about India's green hydrogen mission.

According to the sources, Widmar praised India's policies for climate change and related industries. The First Solar CEO said all countries should emulate what India has done in climate change.

Both Modi and Widmar agreed on enhancement of the manufacturing of solar panels in India, the sources said, adding that the move will also benefit the countries in the region.