Solar Energy in India – Gujarat to host World’s Largest Plant, India’s grand plans..and more
Gujarat government has signed a MoU with Clinton Foundation to build the world’s largest solar-power plant in the region. The 3,000-megawatt plant near the border between India and Pakistan would be one of four planned by the initiative, a William J. Clinton Foundation program to promote renewable energy. The other proposed sites are in California, South Africa, and Australia.
Of all the Indian state governments, Gujarat has taken bold steps towards ‘solarizing’ the state – the government is even offering 25-year fixed-rate tariff contracts, and 35,000 sq. km. area of Thar Desert has been set aside for solar power projects.
55% subsidy on Solar Installations for Homes and Offices
Indian government, plans to provide 55% subsidy on solar power installations for homes and offices, according to a senior government official. The subsidy will come from the $22bn (£13.4bn) that the federal government plans to budget for solar power development to 2030.
Government also plans to convert 10,000 villages which do not have electricity into solar-powered settlements 2012, by diverting a part of of the subsidy spent on fossil fuel to renewable energy.
Moser Baer to setup Solar Project
Moser Baer India is is developing a 1 MW solar power project in Chandrapur district. When completed, it will be one of the largest solar projects in the world using the latest thin film technology. (source)
Also read: India’s National Solar Mission – Grand Plans [20,000MW by 2020]
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
If I’m going to stop reading pluggd.in, it will be because in spite of claiming to “heart” startups, pluggd.in posts far too many posts on Solar Power. You can claim all you want that those are “startups” as well, but it grinds my gear to receive another-solar-energy-opportunity article in my RSS feed.
Hey Anuj – It’s important to get into the real world of technology rather than stay at a high level and talk only about internet/mobile/vas..etc..
everybody is aware of these industries and the interim challenges – but what about the future? Don’t you think talking about some of these ‘hard core’ areas is important?
Don’t you think talking about some of these ‘hard core’ areas is important?
Definitely! And its also very important to talk about biotechnology, how to prevent cancer, growing population of India and the Iraq war.
But this blog/site is hardly a place to do so, especially in the light of your recent positioning of your “hearting startups”. Don’t get me wrong, but I think these kind of posts defeat the purpose of your site and contradict your “About” section.
These topics ought to be discussed but maybe on another site. Once in a while is fine, but daily, making it your fortnightly theme is a little too deviant.
+1 Anuj!
There is a lack of startup in this specific industry..do you know that? As a pain point, India needs more solar energy installations than anybody else – and that’s why we are bringing such issues.
Yes – we do want to talk about biotech, cleantech – and am not at all sure how does that defeats the very purpose of the site – i.e. startups.
Frankly, I dont want to stay in silo – the whole purpose is to talk about the next big opportunity in India (which very few ppl are talking about..everybody is focused on 3G, MVAS, blah blah..)
looks like we need a “solar powered server” ashish… to keep people interested…. an it should work even if “cloud computing” overshadows the solar landscape !!
I think the occasional mention of Solar Energy is welcome. But..
On the other hand, the criticism is also valid. Many of us believe this site is not a business site, but a startup site. Either in solar energy or mini hydel dams, a startup has limited potential. This is not to say there isnt any *new* activity in these areas. Serial entrepreneur Shivasankaran yesterday opened a 350Cr plant in Chennai to manufacture Wind turbines and blades. However, it is a new business, not a startup. Both are not the same.
>> “solar powered server” ashish
I second this
On the other hand, I just met some startups who are working on a solar initiative.. I agree we shdn’t be going ‘all solar’ (and that makes me think, whether there is a need for a separate section for all this)..but since its the theme that we selected..we are doing our best to go sunny.
>> “solar powered server” – will I be able to moonwalk?
>> “solar powered server”
It is scorching hot in Chennai right now. This solar talk is making it worse. Right now, Id like to hear about some startup importing icebergs ?
Well, honestly, a startup is essentially a small business started with limited capital to address some needs of the market through either technology, or delivery, or a totally new level of service, or another such innovation. The innovation is usually key because thats all a startup can do to overcome the lack of big bucks etc is innovate!
Solar power is at a very nascent stage. Given the predicted demand in the power sector, coupled with the need to keep it as green as possible (getting more and more fiercely mandated by law), and complicated by the cost vs benefit and the distribution issues, its ripe for innovation across its entire food-chain. Right from the design, to the engineering of solutions, the consulting around it, the productizing/packaging and finally the distribution and the maintenance, there’s so much opportunity that I’m surprised at some of the comments here!
Sure, it may not be *your* technology and possibly not even have a web interface (though I can think of a few cool ideas around that) but that is hardly reason to impose an assumed categorization over it. It is already breeding entrepreneurial ventures (not large capital backed ones alone) and it is a huge addressable market and it definitely is about technology.
If you cannot relate to that, I guess you could continue to slot it in whatever category you choose to. Others who see opportunity in this will, meanwhile, potentially be the big guys when it goes primetime. Its a choice, after all.
Ashish, I’d say you’ve made the right choice in your take on the subject. Power on (pun intended).
Hi Ashish ,
I am a Textile marketing professional (B. Tech Textiles , 7 years of work experience) engaged in marketing & sourcing of Fashion accessories for a UK based retail chain Monsoon Accessorise till end Sept. I have now quit & on a lookout for some enterpreneurial opportunities in Solar energy.
Can you help me on this ? My strength – Marketing.
My weakness – No idea about Technology on Solar energy projects. Can I team up with someone who is totally Technology based & not so strong on marketing ?
Hi Nisheeth & Ashish,
I am a Mechanical Engineer, worked for 5 years with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, left the job and joined PhD (Management) at IIT Kanpur, now on the completion stage of my PhD.
I am also looking very seriously into ’solar power’ for an enterpreneurial opportunity. Nisheeth, may be we can go along. At the outset, I see we have a complementing strength and weakness. Also I have another drawback that I dont have any money to begin with
.
Ashish, it’d be really nice if you can give some initial inputs (in terms of ideas) to us. I am sure we’ll make it big.
Hi Mayank,
Please let me have your email id. iam interested in setting up a solar energy plant under the Rajiv Gandhi village electrification scheme.
thanks,
Sunderam.
I look forward to hear from you, Sunderam.
Regards,
Mayank [mayankverma.p@gmail.com]
do reply at for any help in setting up solar power project.
thanks.
vikram k.
Dear Sir,
i propose to set up a solar power plant under the Rajiv Gandhi village electrification scheme.i propose toinvest around 5 crores initially and willbe doing with it my associate working in Quatar etroleum,Quatar.Those ready to offer technical help can contact me.
Sunderam,Coimbatore,India.
email id kvsundaram111yahoo.com.
Hi,
I am an NRI Engineer interested in entering the renewable energy sector in India. Manufacturing of components/parts and/or assembling (e.g. PV panels etc.) can be considered. Generation of power(Micro Hydel, Solar, Gasification etc.) also can be looked into. Those who have similar interests may please contact me at thomasrana@gmail.com
Hi Rana Thomas,
I have similar interest as yours, I can be contacted at – mahtolia@hotmail.com
Regards
hiii
i m an s/w engineer.i want to start to deal in parts of solar power plant.can nebody tell me hw much cost will be required to star the business.
dear sundaram,
i am a graduate in Mechanical engineering from NIT Trichy presently working in Indian oil corporation as an engineer and keenly interested in joining the solar power industry, i would like to know about your plan, and other details which i hope would help me to get into this industry. i can support in technical aspects of solar power.
reply me at gampark@iocl.co.in for further discussions. hoping for a beneficial tie-up.
thanks
rakesh kumar gampa
hi guys, this d first time i was onthis page , liked it very much , im an MBA ,businessman , at gandhidham gujarat , 20 years of marketing experience , would like to gradually shift to solar energy business ofcourse marketing d end product , im into building materials industry hv exprnce of selling solar water heaters , but want to do more in this area ,
Hi
Really interesting all your mails. I work for a school that is looking at solar lighting as an option. Could you folks suggest something for us-
Hi nana,
gr8 2 nw abt ur query.
can u plz provide ur contact details.
-Chinmay J Antani
ion.chinmay@gmail.com
Google blog search is always great for finding new stuff! I was trying to figure out how to install an attic ventilator.. Don’t know why this one came up!
it is a pleasure to meet you all.
Dear Sir,
This is for your kind information
We are S.R.Logisticks came into existence on 10.02.2007. We are a partnership firm mostly dealing in Industrial safety items and telecom products, since our birth we have grown at a constant pace and created a niche in industrial sales and corporate sales.
Being at the heart of orissa and in a heavily industrialized district business opportunities are available more than any body can think of. In the vicinity we have plants like NALCO, BRG iron& Steel, Bhushan Steels ltd., Bindal Sponge Iron ltd., Monnet ispat, srimetalik industries, hind metal and industries, navvarat ventures along with Jindal steel in construction phase. Apart from these there is lots of medium scale and small scale industries are active in this region.
While dealing in industrial safety items we found out that there is a huge demand for Digital Security System for better surveillance. As the industrial safety is taking new and advanced shape these equipments are inevitable in future.
Subsequently the industrialization process has brought a sea change in the consumer market also, day by day banks, hospital, general stores; shopping malls are also getting interested for these products. Along with these corporate houses and domestic usages are also expected.
There are only few companies who are dealing in these products and the demand is at the peak, hence gives us a unique business opportunity.
Partner-I- Mr.Ravinarayan Panigrahi,
Educational qualification-B.com
Work experience-propitor’omm communication’
Partner-II- Mr.Sangram Singh
Technical team-
We have highly efficient team to install, maintain and to address the problem.
Technical team is headed by Mr.Akhil Ku.Parida, AMIE (Electrical)
Assisted by Mr.Gurupada Pradhan, Diploma (Mechanical), AUTOCAD, PGDCA+
What We Offer
As we are doing business from last 10 years we have necessary feedback about the market and subsequently developed many business relationships in many industries.
II)-we are situated very close to them
III)-we will be early to render any kind of service and complaints.
IV)-we have strong technical team to carry out installation, maintainance and complaint solving.
V)-we have highly efficient team for official correspondence. Work order generation, and payment collection.
1)-The fore most thing we require is the support from an esteemed organization like yours to procure items like Cameras, DVR, & cables.
2)-Dealership with reasonable margin/commission
3)-30 Days credit period.
4)-leaflets/brochures and literature about the products.
We believe that this is a unique business opportunity and together we can scale new heights of success by joining hands.
We hope you will be kind enough to give us the opportunity to allow us to be a part of your success story. Your suggestion and guidance will be deeply appreciated
Thanking you
Regards
Hi everyone,
I have had considerable experience in the consumer durable sector ( electronics) including manufacturing, technical support, product planning, product management. sourcing, marketing and merchandise management – all spanning a career of 25 years.
I now wish to change tack and get a foothold into the renewable energy sector- read solar energy.
Areas of interest for me would be the application side- end to end implementation of projects on solar powered heating and lighting solutions for corporates and households.Also any other highend applications if possible.
My current knowledge in this area is abysmal but my strenghts are being a keen learner, excellent communicator and ready to put in maximum efforts in sourcing, installing, marketing areas.
Would want to start of being employed initially for a couple of years, later spin off as a subcontracter or a franchisee.
Any inputs, please.