Use of solar energy is expected to rise in the State with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission bringing back the capital subsidy for domestic solar-power equipment and more and more players entering the field of manufacturing such equipment. People have realised the importance of renewable energy, Dharesan Unnithan, Director of the Kerala Energy Management Centre, says. More of them are now trying to switch over to solar energy for some of their most essential requirements.
The capital subsidy will help in a big way to tap renewable energy, K.N. Iyer of the Thripunithura-based Kraft Work Solar Private Ltd., a veteran in the field, says.
The government had stopped providing the direct subsidy for some time, but has reintroduced it to make more people switch over to solar energy. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is providing the 30 per cent subsidy. The programme had come into being in October last year. This is one of the major programmes expected to boost the use of solar energy in the State. The Ministry has roped in agencies such as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Small Industries Development Bank of India and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency to implement the subsidy programme. Mr. Iyer says the government is also in the process of selecting channel partners from established private players in the field for the implementation of the subsidy programme. This is a move that will prompt private home owners to go into meeting a part of their needs using solar energy, says Georgekutty Kariyanappilly of Lifeway Solar.
K.A. MARTIN