Government launches project to promote solar heating applications

The ministry of new and renewable energy has launched a project on development and promotion of solar concentrator-based heating applications in India in order to reduce GHG emissions from low and medium temperature process heat applications.

The project, 'Market Development and Promotion of Solar Concentrator based Process Heat Application in India', launched by Gireesh B Pradhan, secretary to the ministry, aims to popularise the use of concentrated solar heat systems in the country.

Speaking at the inception workshop of the project, Pradhan said that with 25,000 MW installed capacity, renewable energy today accounts for about 12 per cent of India's total installed capacity. He said that by the end of the 12th Plan, the country's renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 55,000 MW.

He, however, said solar heating systems need to be tailored to Indian conditions and these should be supported by post installation support structures for maintenance of systems to build up credibility of these applications in the market.

The project, which is being supported by the UNDP, India and Global Environment Facility (GEF) in consonance with the ministry of new and renewable energy, would help in accelerating growth of this sector, Pradhan said as he inaugurated a website on solar water heating solutions for India.

The workshop provided a floor for consultation with stakeholders to implement the project.

The objective of the project is to increase the use and promotion of concentrated solar heat (CSH) systems for low and medium temperature process heat applications. The project is to be completed by March 2017.

Major areas of the major activities include technology package development and standardization, awareness creation and capacity building, planning and operationalisation of demonstration projects and removal of financial barriers in order to adopt CSH technologies.