'Policy shift needed to achieve 1L MW solar energy target'

To achieve the target for solar energy capacity of 100,000 MW, India needs a policy change, apart from getting rid of subsidies on some fossil fuel sources of energy, noted environmentalist and Nobel Laureate R K Pachauri said here today.
"The new government is committed to setting up 1 lakh MW of solar power capacity possibly in less than a decade. I think this would be a remarkable development if the Government of India can pursue a target of 1 lakh MW (from solar power)," Pachauri told reporters on the sidelines of an event here that marked laying of foundation stone of Hyderabad campus of TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) University.

"I hope (it can happen) in the next 10 years. It can be done... I think if we are really determined we can do it and we can become world leaders in this field. I have a hope that we will scale up the targets for that (Solar Energy Mission). And when that happens, there's going to be huge opportunity in India for developing renewable energy technologies and dissemination," the TERI Director General said.
On January 12, the Prime Minister has called a meeting of his advisory council on climate change. All that (scaling up of solar power) of course is going to take concrete shape (at this meet), he said.

Asked if big policy change is needed to achieve such a target, Pachauri said, "Let us see... We need a lot of policy change. It will require a whole range of analysis to be carried out. And one thing we need to do is get rid of subsidies on some fossil fuel sources of energy. Because that also distorts..."
Asked if the government was thinking on that line, he said "I hope so...I don't know."

"At the global level, as chair of IPCC, we have come out with its fifth assessment report and we have clearly said if the world has to limit temperature increase by the end of this century to not more than 2 degrees Celsius, then by 2050 we will require trebling or quadrupling of low carbon or zero carbon sources of energy and renewables," Pachauri said.

"If that is going to happen then India has not only an opportunity with renewable energy technology in this country, but globally. I think it is a unique opportunity. I think business, industry and the research establishments can make a major contribution in that regard," he said.
Pachauri, who is also the TERI University's Chancellor, said "We believe since TERI is a research-based university we will have a mix of teaching, research and development of technologies on this campus. We are going to develop this campus as a model of resource efficiency and it will impart training particularly on renewable energy.