We need to find ways for Solar Energy to become norm: Piyush Goyal

India's Power, Coal New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal has launched report titled, “Scaling up Private Investment in Rooftop Solar”. Speaking on the occasion, Goyal said that we need to find ways for solar energy to become norm rather than exception. The minister reiterated that people can immensely be benefited from generating rooftop power particularly on industrial and commercial buildings. He further said that technological innovations will find solutions for significant problem associated with grid integration and help clean energy to become a very robust element in India’s power scenario. “We are committed to making rooftops happen”, he added. The report is aimed at policy makers in central and state governments, regulators, utilities, investors, banks, the solar industry, the real estate industry, think tanks, local government bodies and others with an interest in the future of rooftop solar. This study makes recommendations that the authors estimate can double rooftop solar capacity by 2022 without any additional direct subsidy. The report is the product of an in-depth study by the Solar Rooftop Policy on ways to increase private investment in rooftop solar in India. The report focuses on how solar on the roofs of business, institutions and homes can be scaled up to the Government’s target of installing 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2022. Rooftop solar will contribute to India’s energy security and is an important part of achieving the Government’s overall target of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022. The report, which exclusively reflects a study about rooftop solar, is a result of a yearlong process involving a project team with experts from four organisations, contributions from 20 organisations as coalition partners and consultations in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. The study was conducted in close cooperation with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The Solar Rooftop Policy Coalition has four funding partners: The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation, The UK Department for International Development, The Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation and The Climate Group. The report was prepared by a project team consisting of experts from The Khemka Foundation, The Climate Group, Bridge to India and Meghraj Capital Advisers. Over 20 other organisations contributed ideas and analysis to the report. Consultations were held in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad in August 2015. The report is aimed at policy makers in central and state governments, regulators, utilities, investors, banks, the solar industry, the real estate industry, think tanks, local government bodies and others with an interest in the future of rooftop solar.