Out of the Shadows which would , by 2022 , install 20,000 MW of grid-connected solar power capacity and 2,000 MW of distributed solar power capacity .
The budget for these measures will come at a price to the coal industry , as Modi plans to double the tax levied on it to 100 rupees ($ 1.70 ) a ton .
Toward a Brighter Future While some implementation has been done on the small scale , many larger scale projects are still very much in progress . Across the country , there are quite a few .
Solar is also gaining international attention , with key solar players in the Middle East coming to the INDIASOL 2014 convention in New Delhi to meet with Indian solar companies this October .
In the immediate sense , it seems the future of solar in India may lie with native manufacturing rather than importation of solar panels .
According to KMPG , the revitalization of the Indian panel manufacturing industry could save $ 42 billion in costs . With India looking to impose duties in U . S . and other Asian panel and cell suppliers , this could prove to be extreme fruitful . KMPG believes the country needs incentives for manufacturing to take off .
Chatila expressed SunEdison ’ s interest in manufacturing in India .
“ I think there are a lot of great conditions in India ,” he said . “ Many States have good policies . I am a believer in investing in India in manufacturing . If the Indian market does not evolve as I wish , I can export . Indian cost structures are very competitive .”
Chatila is also against the duties , saying he believes that trade barriers don ’ t help industry in any country . He did , however , reaffirm SunEdison ’ s commitment to India , saying that if the company had to pay more for panels , it wouldn ’ t really matter . “ I would like us to continue to be the leader . We do not see ourselves as a US company ,” he said . “ We are more an Indian company than any other company . We will do more , invest more .”
India is currently sitting on the precipice of a major solar revolution , though its future is far from certain . With the support and current momentum , it ’ s hard to see India as a country that ’ s not shining in the light of the sun anytime soon .
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