Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) has said that there will not be any budget restrictions on Research & Development and our Government stand committed to it. Shri Goyal said this while inaugurating a conclave on R&D in New & Renewable Energy here today. Dr R. Chidambaram , Principal Scientific Adviser to Government was the Chief Guest at the one day conclave organised by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) . Shri Goyal urged the experienced and young scientists to guide us what we can do to create international level labs for research and development in the country. He assured that the Government will provide full support for the development of latest technologies within the country. Shri Goyal said “We will not be found wanting to help development of latest technologists within India and encourage all young boys and girls to come up with innovative ideas. He further said “in all aspects we as a nation looks Science & Technology, innovation, Research & Development as the way forward that is what is going to take us at the next level of development”.
Goyal said “the science & technology initiatives of the Government and initiatives of all those working in new & renewable energy space are complimentary in nature”. He further added “our Government want to make one big difference is that we do not work in silos and we like to encourage greater degree of cross functional and inter-dependency amongst different wings of the Government.” Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister believes personally in indigenous development of technology and innovation and for the subject like science and technology and there is no limitation for budget. He urged the scientist community to look for one big ticket success in our life time we can leave behind for prosperity of next generation to enjoy fruit of. He said “It is enjoying upon us as a nation to look at renewable sources of energy more seriously and expand it rapidly”. He said his Ministry is fully committed to make India as second/third destination on world map of renewable energy. He hoped that within five year term of this Government, we will put India on right on the top of world map of renewable energy.
Piyush Goyal said that MNRE has taken some concrete measures for strengthening institutional mechanism to boost R&D in solar energy through setting up of National Institute of Solar Energy at Gurgaon. Similarly, National Institute for Wind Energy, Chennai and National Institute of Bioenergy, Kapurthala have been set up for RD, Testing and Demonstration in the fields of wind energy and bio-energy technologies and systems. He further stated that the Ministry is also working on setting up a Clean Energy Innovation centre at National Institute of Solar Energy as a Centre of Global Excellence modelled on the lines of Centres at Harward, Berkley and Stanford. The initiatives like these are considered necessary for taking R&D in Renewable Energy to the most desired next level, Shri Goyal added. In his address, Dr.R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, gave the detailed eye view on the research and development perspectives of modern renewables. Upendra Tripathy, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), in his welcome address, gave the details of various initiatives undertaken to boost Research & Development activities in solar, wind and bio energy areas. On the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal also released a compendium on on-going research and development projects in new & renewable energy.
Background:
MNRE has been actively promoting research, development and demonstration (RD&D) in the field of new and renewable energy. The policy and guidelines provide enabling environment for strengthening Research, Development and Demonstration(RD&D) capacity of R&D institutions, organizations, industries, etc. and technology development and demonstration in the Renewable Energy sector. The emphasis has been on associating industry for technology development and demonstration leading to commercialization. The 11th Plan witnessed a tremendous impetus to R&D in new and renewable energy sector. Around 170 R&D projects in the areas of solar energy, bio-energy and hydrogen and fuels cells with budget of Rs.525 crore have been sanctioned to the various R&D institutions, academic institutions, industries, etc during the 11th Plan Five Year Period.
MNRE has made budgetary allocation of Rs.910 crore for R&D during the current five year plan period to continue to support RD&D efforts for developing technology with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness to achieve our goal of large scale deployment in cost effective manner. It is envisaged that as a result of rapid scale up as well as technological developments, the price of solar power will attain parity with grid power at the end of the Mission, enabling accelerated and large-scale expansion thereafter. The inspiration would be to reach grid parity for both solar PV and solar thermal and achieve technological breakthroughs in biofuels and hydrogen energy/fuel cells.
The Conclave aims at to present the progress of on-going R&D projects funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and to seek the views of researchers, scientists, and related stakeholders for faster development of renewable energy technologies in the country. Participants include the Principal Investigators of R&D projects, researchers, scientists, policy makers from relevant government departments, experts from R&D institutions, organizations, industries etc. Eminent experts engaged in research and development activities in new and renewable energy have been invited for making key presentations in respective areas in a plenary session. In all, about twenty four R&D projects in different areas will be presented in respective technical sessions. The conclave will conclude with recommendations of strategy and suggestions for thrust areas for RD&D for support by MNRE.