The tenth edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention will be held in Jaipur from 7-9th January, 2012.

On this occasion, special seminars will also be held on on 7th January 2012 on solar energy focusing on investment in solar energy sector and R&D and Manufacturing. A brief write-up on the solar energy sector in India is given below:

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched by the Prime Minister in January, 2010.  The objective of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country quickly and achieve a scale to drive down costs to levels required to achieve grid parity as soon as possible.

The Mission targets include
(i) deployment of 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022,
(ii) 2,000 MW of off-grid solar applications including 20 million solar energy lights by 2022,
(iii) 20 million sq. m. solar thermal collector area,
(iv) to create favourable conditions for developing solar manufacturing capability in the country,
(v) support R & D and capacity building activities to achieve grid parity by 2022. The Mission will be implemented in three phases.

The first phase of the Mission targets to set-up 1,100 MW grid connected solar plants, including 100 MW capacity plants as rooftop and other small solar power plants for the first phase of the Mission till March, 2013. In addition, 200 MW capacity equivalent off-grid solar applications and 7 million square meter solar thermal collector area is also targeted.

Grid connected solar projects totaling 800 MW have been sanctioned and guidelines for the balance capacity is being announced. Approximately 60 MW capacity equivalent off-grid solar applications and 5 million square meter solar thermal collected area has also been allocated. 

  More details about the PBD Convention in Jaipur are available on the website: http://moia.gov.in