Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday 31 October 2023

RKS liberates RTSP

 RKS liberates RTSP

 

 

( read : Shri R K Singh liberated Roof Top Solar Power )

 

 

 

Context :

Rooftop solar programme    /  22 Jan 2022

Extract :

Subject – Environment

Context – Rooftop solar programme norms eased

Concept :

·         India has significant rooftop solar potential at 1.7 petawatt hour per year.

 

Changes introduced :

·         MNRE said that now it is not necessary for a household to get the RTS installed by any of the listed vendors of a State Discom. The households can also install the equipment on their own and inform the Discom along with a photograph of the system.

o    The Discom will then have to ensure that net metering is provided within 15 days.

o    The government said that individual households can now opt for a vendor of their choice.

·         The subsidy amount for purchasing the equipment will be credited directly into their bank accounts, within 30 days of installation.

 

About the scheme :

·         Implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

·         Presently under implementation is the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II), it aims to achieve a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by the year 2022.

·         This scheme is being implemented in the state by distribution companies (DISCOMs).

 

The major objective of the programme includes :

·         To promote the grid-connected SPV rooftop and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial and commercial establishments.

·         To mitigate the dependence on fossil fuel based electricity generation and encourage environment-friendly Solar electricity generation.

·         To create an enabling environment for investment in the solar energy sector by the private sector, state government and the individuals.

·         To create an enabling environment for the supply of solar power from rooftop and small plants to the grid.

 

MY TAKE :

Dear Shri R K Sighji ( Minister for New and Renewable Energy  ),

 

While congratulating for this “ minor liberalization “ of current ROOF TOP SOLAR REGIME , please ask if this is enough, considering :

 

#  Our installed capacity of Roof Top Solar was a meagre is 6.0 GW By Oct  2021

 

#   Our target is to achieve 40  GW by the current year ( 2022 )

 

 

Obviously an impossible task, with just 11 months left to install 34 GW

 

( Source : Why India's rooftop solar installation initiative is yet to see the light of success  )   

 

Could we achieve this target in next 22 months ?

 

Yes

 

By UNLEASHING the power of the sun through implementation of suggestion in my following e-mail :

Sun : Our Soul ( A New SOS )  ………………………………….  02 Jan 2017

 

Extract :

 

Why install small solar power plants on roof tops ?

 

 

Simple :

 

 

With roof-top based solar plants , we don't need to distribute power over long distances , using nation-wide distribution network. We produce / store / consume power in same place

 

 

So no transmission costs / losses / thefts !

 

 

There are no " intermediaries " between producers and consumers ( eg: DISCOMS )

 

 

No need of elaborate " metering / billing / accounting "

 

 

No need for PPA ( Power Purchase Agreements ) between producers and DISCOMs

 

 

A roof top solar installation can be done in a matter of hours, providing employment to lakhs of Installation Technicians, employed by thousands of MSME engaged in such work

 

 

Many more lakhs will find jobs in companies engaged in manufacture of allied electrical /  electronic / storage batteries etc

 

 

So enormous " Job Generation " as a by-product

 

 

These local MSME manufacturers / installers , will aggressively compete and provide quick / efficient , after-sales service

 

 

Of course , roof top solar power's Capital Cost per kwh is higher than same for large land based installations . Over the next couple of years, this will even out

 

 

But as I mentioned in my earlier blog :

 

 

*  COST OF FUEL ( Sun ) is  ZERO

 

 

*  COST OF MAINTENANCE , too , is nearly  NIL

 

 

Practically , the only cost of a roof top based solar plant is " INTEREST ON CAPITAL "

 

 

Now NDA government has announced a Capital Subsidy of 30 % on " Competitively Discovered Price " for roof top installations and made an allocation of ( approx ) , Rs 5200 crores ( $ 750 million ), for putting up 4200 MW

 

 

But , on the balance 70 % of Capital Cost , users will need to borrow money from banks at 10 % - 15 % interest and go through a lengthy approval process and hypothecate the assets

 

 

And ensure timely repayment of EMI in order, not to get their plants " repossessed " !

 

 

But imagine following scenario :

 

 

*  Government declares units belonging to " Solar Power ( Panel Mfr / Power Production &

    Distribution / Ancillary Mfr  ) " as    a "  SOS " industry

 

 

*   Units will need to register as such with Department of Company Affairs ( DIPP )

 

 

*  Units will be exempt  from paying Corporate Income Tax for 10 years , on whatever

   income they earn ( only those starting operations latest by 31 March 2018 )

 

 

 *  No questions will be asked as to the " source " of funds invested in the shares of such

   units ( a kind of Temporary Amnesty Scheme - 01 April 2017  till 31 March 2018 - to

   channelize BLACK MONEY into creation of PRODUCTIVE  / NON-POLUTING assets )

 

 

 *  Units cannot engage in any other Industrial / Commercial / Financial activities

 

 

 *  Units cannot declare any dividends to share-holders for 10 years

 

 

These are just broad outlines and details need to be worked out

 

 

If there is political courage to pull off such an initiative , government will NOT need to allocate ANY AMOUNT !

 

 

NO NEED TO SUBSIDIZE THESE UNITS OR THE USERS , WITH THE TAX PAYERS' MONEY !

 

 

Instead of that $ 750 million allocation ( from tax payers' money ) , Black Money holders will readily pump in $ 750 BILLION into the SOLAR INDUSTRY ( enough for additional installed capacity of 750 GW - as against our current installed capacity 8.63 GW of solar , and a target of 100 GW , by 2022 ! )

 

 

Remember , how , only a few months back , tiny Indonesia managed to collect $ 300 billion of its Black Money , by levying tax ( no penalty ) of just 4 % !

 

 

And with this kind of  INCENTIVE WINDOW ( to convert BLACK into WHITE ) , expect

 

 

*  Hundreds of SOS Units to spring up before 31 March 2018

 

 

*  They will have ZERO cost as far as servicing of EQUITY is concerned ! No dividends !

 

 

*  They will not need to borrow funds from banks and pay interest ( no danger of NPA ! )

 

 

*  They will say : We are not in the business of " manufacturing of panels " but we are in

    the business of " Delivering electric power to homes / businesses "

 

 

With regards

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 24 Jan 2022

 

 

Related Readings :

 

 

https://mnre.gov.in/solar/current-status/    

 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/renewable-energy/india-adds-highest-rooftop-solar-capacity-for-a-quarter-in-july-sept-mercom-79189#:~:text=India%20installed%20521%20megawatts%20(MW,this%20year%20(341%20MW).  

 

Thank You, Shri R K Singhji : the Green Warrior……………[ 26 Oct 2021 ]

 

Not Good Enough ! ……………………………………………………………[ 02 Dec 2017 ]

 

Treading ( gently ) on Solar Power Trading…………………… .[ 18 Oct 2021 ]

 

No Godfather for Rooftop Solar ? ……………………………………..[ 01 June 2021 ]

 

Market-based Model for Renewable Energy ………………………[ 09 June 2021 ]

 

Congratulations , Shri R K Singhji …………………………………….[ 19 Nov 2020 ]

 

Congratulations , Shri Saurabh Patelji ……………………………….[ 31 Dec 2020 ]

Topmost Candidate for PLI ?

 Topmost Candidate for PLI  ?

 

 

Dear Shri R K Singhji

 

( Minister – MNRE / raj.ksingh@gov.in )

 

 

Your Ministry has introduced PLI ( Production Linked Incentive ) Scheme for manufacture of conventional ( Mo-Si ), Solar PV panels / modules

 

I urge you to :

 

#  Consider extending this scheme to Organic Printed Solar Film, described below

 

#  Invite Prof Paul Dastoor to set up in India, a manufacturing facility with a capacity to produce 100 million Sq

    Meter per year

 

    ( @10 Sq Meter per concrete / pucca building for 10 million buildings / This facility will

    supply all of our 30 million concrete / pucca buildings, with enough film in 3 years )

 

 

This has the potential to fulfil the commitment made by our PM Shri Modiji at COP26 in Glasgow

 

 

With regards,

 

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 20 Jan 2022

 

 

Context :

 

Public Debut for Printed Solar   

 

 

Extract :

 

The University of Newcastle renewable energy tech - which is,

 

#  ultra light-weight,

 

#  ultra flexible,

 

#  recyclable and

 

#  cheap to manufacture,

 

will power interactive public lighting in Sydney.

 

 

The material, similar in thickness and appearance to a chip packet, is manufactured using conventional printers.

 

 

Creator of the organic printed solar material, Physicist Professor Paul Dastoor from the Faculty of Science said his team were excited to take their ‘science to the streets’ in what represented significant progress toward commercial availability of the material.

 

 

The government is seeking to bring down carbon emissions over the next 30 years and the community has been very engaged on this subject. Globally, there are many research groups like ours working on sustainable energy technologies and now, via the technology investment roadmap, is our opportunity to ensure we invest in and deliver clever solutions,” said Professor Dastoor.

 

 

Director of the University’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER)Professor Alan Broadfoot, said the University was committed to bringing the world closer to a sustainable future through its next generation resources engagement priority.

 

“The printed solar project highlights the transformational research coming out of NIER through valued partnerships with government, industry, and the community in critical areas such as new energy technologies,” said Professor Broadfoot. (alan.broadfoot@newcastle.edu.au )

 

This technology will really disrupt and revitalise the contracting print industry.

 

 

Printed solar is manufactured on conventional printers – our lab-scale system previously manufactured wine labels.

 

 

“Compared to familiar energy technologies, this material has almost a surreal quality - it’s supremely lighthyper-flexible and incredibly thin

Printed solar is cheap to manufacture, at a production cost of less than $10 per square metre and rapid to produce, with commercial scale equipment capable of producing kilometres of material a day.

 

 

“No other renewal energy technology can be manufactured as quickly. The low cost and speed at which this technology can be deployed is exciting as we need to find solutions, and quickly,” said Professor Dastoor.

 

With over 99 per cent of the panels consisting of PET, the material can be recycled - a distinct advantage over traditional silicon panels.

 

The low-cost, light weight, flexibility and durability of the material are inspiring a range of possible applications including disaster relief and recovery applications; retractable recharging systems for electric vehicles, caravans/camping and the defence industry; floating covers for dams and pools; yacht sails; smart blinds for residential and high-rise buildings; greenhouse covers and more.

 

Professor Dastoor said his goal was to coat as many surfaces as possible with the material.

 

Imagine a world where everyone has access to electricity, and where every surface can generate clean, low cost, sustainable energy from the sun. That’s a world I want to live in,” said Professor Dastoor.

 

 

 

Related Links :

 

 

Prof Paul Dastoor  /  Shining Light on Organic Electronics

 

paul.dastoor@newcastle.edu.au ]  

 

 

Extract :

 

When painted across a roof, the cells produce enough electricity to power a household.

 

Dastoor estimates that if the 2.2 million houses in NSW were to use these cells, it would be the equivalent to an entire power station.

 

==================================================================

 

CC :

 

 

Shri Mukesh Ambani  ( mukesh.ambani@ril.com )

 

Smt Isha Ambani ( isha@ril.com )

 

Shri Gautam Adani (Gautam.Adani@adani.in )

 

Shri Karan Adani (chandan.lakhwani@adani.com / karan.adani@adani.in )

 

 

 

Dear Industrialists :

Prof Paul Dastoor's phone number is : ( 02 ) 4921 5426