Non-conventional energy policy on the cards

Ministry of non-conventional energy sources is close to finalising a uniform non-conventional energy policy. The policy will focus on equal disbursement of subsidiary slabs, sales tax and VAT rates all over the country.

This is to ensure that the sources of non-conventional energy are equally tapped. Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttemwar, announced this at the seminar organised by Assocham. Issues related to uniform taxation system, land acquisition, extension of subsidy rates, and VAT have been discussed with the state governments and union territories.

The ministry also plans to undertake a mapping exercise to identify wind energy potential sites. "The exercise will facilitate raising the capacity utilisation factor for the wind energy sector to at least 25 per cent by 2011-12," Muttemwar said. Of the total grid power capacity in the country 7,000 MW comes from renewable sources. Wind power has an installed capacity of 4,225 MW.