India to double renewable energy capacity

Intends to produce 54,000 MW by 2017.

Gireesh Pardhan, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said India’s12th Five-Year Plan envisions doubling its current renewable energy capacity of 27,000 MW to 54,000 MW by 2017, the plan's final year.

A reduction in the cost of producing renewable energy by more than half also gives the government optimism of achieving this goal.

India produced solar energy at an average tariff of Rs 18 a unit in 2009, which now stands at Rs 7.40 per unit, Pardhan said.

“This fall in tariff for solar energy witnessed in such a short period has encouraged policy makers to explore greater possibilities to harness solar energy at a faster pace,” he noted.