NEW DELHI, INDIA: About 7.7 lakh solar lanterns, 5.1 lakh solar home lighting systems, 82,500 solar street lighting systems, 7,247 solar water pumping systems, stand-alone and grid connected solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plants of about 10 MW peak aggregate capacity, about 3.12 million square meter solar water heater collector area and 6.57 lakh solar cookers have been distributed/installed in the country, as on 30.11.2009, under the solar energy programs.
The present cost of electricity generation from solar thermal and solar photovoltaic energy systems is Rs. 13.45 and Rs. 18.44 per unit, respectively, as fixed by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Solar energy systems are presently not commercially viable due to their high initial costs. Therefore, the Ministry has been providing various fiscal and financial incentives for promotion of such systems. These incentives include capital and interest subsidies.
The Ministry is also supporting research and development in this sector through academic institutions, research organizations and industry, to improve the efficiency, increase the life and reduce the costs of such systems. As a result of research and development efforts and volume production, the costs of solar energy systems are declining gradually.
This information was given by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Dec. 14, 2009.
Source: PIB
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