A pi diagram showing share of various sources (solar, wind, coal, petroleum, gas, bio-gas, others) would provide a clear picture of generation. Along with that a study of available resources at our hand is to be assessed. A proper graphic will help. As for COAL, "Our known extractable reserves will not last beyond 2050 if our coal consumption continues to grow as it has been growing over the past 25 years". Planners of the country need to visualize the impending energy shortage, may be in a decade. Energy shortage will create chaos in society. It seems the government is not serious about power generation. They should have moved to RE in a larger way. Noting the stupendous solar power free of cost we should have augment solar generation with earnest efforts. From the slow progress, it seems government does not wish to enhance solar generation. India should frame a solar policy which would encourage investors. We can learn the success stories from around the world. Japan is the latest entrant. They crossed 10 GW in last August. Why do we stand reluctant to Feed in Tariff? Large scale generation can be accomplished through FIT.

This corporate based on balance sheet will get funding from EXIM bank etc at a very cheap interest rate ranging from 1.5% to 3% Dollar term, whereas the Rs. 7.5 or 15 or 18/kwh (reliance power got this tariff) calculations as per CERC agrees for an interest rate of 12 to 14% due to Indian Economy condition with a solar pv project cost as 16 cr etc in the 2009 etc. Thus LADDU in both hands for such profit making i.e wind fall gains, which now GERC / GUVNL of Gujarat is asking for tariff reversal.

Government can waive off the local taxes to match the imported solar Panels or Inverters, when such comparisons are transparently made after the ex-works supply (excluding the transportation and its service tax).
Thus the local solar manufacturers are protected from the Tax burden or Interest load on high financing cost. For sure, government can't pay for old stocks, inefficient methods of production or import fluctuation of raw materials of these solar module or inverter manufacturers.

Indians would love to see this change take place in about an year's time all over the country rather than wait another 60 years! Any inverter manufacturer with a national footprint reading this?

Personally I am of the opinion of not using AC at all in homes if solar power is the primary source of energy. LCD monitors, LCD TVs, Laptops, DC Fans, Peltier effect refrigerators, LED lights, LED tube lights all work on DC - why use solar to convert DC to DC to AC and then DC again. Most of the Lighting products designed by us work on direct batteries from full charge to the set DOD.

We as consumers must say NO to Kerala like subsidy and residential roof top systems in general for the time being as the costs are not transparent and we owners will make the installation companies / channel partners, administration people rich (i.e subsidy money goes to them) and not as consumers. No standard specifications and no generation guarantee, no maintenance support for 20 years...

Firstly, let it be known that most power consumers (and you could be one of them) have enjoyed electricity from thermal sources (include diesel/kerosene) at huge discounts thru subsidy. Think that the issue to be addressed at first. 2ndly, by the time the budget announced AD, tariffs thru reverse auctions were already low at about 7.50/kwh (the first rounds being incentive to push start a brand new industry, and recent tariffs at about 5.59/6.50 which is very competitive to fossil power adjusted for subsidy. 3rdly, thanks to the Chinese you are able to pride yourself with those comments. left to the India manufacturers - solar cost would probably have remained at Rs 15/kwh w/o the benefits of economies of scale.

On the residential front, I think there is a need to target the urban centers which already own inverters/batteries. There is no denying the fact there must be a threshold, in terms of number of grid outage hours per year, beyond which it is more feasible to charge your batteries through your solar PV modules over a period of time instead of using the grid, when available. This will go a long way in maintaining grid health since all batteries will not begin charging at the same time using the grid after an outage. A wonderful test ground would be developers of residential societies that sell 24-hour backup at over 1.6$/kWh in some areas.

Today transmission and distribution loss of electrical energy is 30%. What is the point in creating solar power miles away and once again loosing 30%. The advantage of solar power is decentralized power. Every apartment should have their own solar power generating and storage systems. Today coal power is highly subsidized. We fail to recognize, every 1 unit of coal power consumes 2 ltrs water and every unit releases nearly 1 Kg of CO₂ to atmosphere. Cost of water and cost of climate change is not built in to today's cost. When we incorporate all these cost, the cost of coal power per unit is more than cost of solar power. Moreover, demand and supply push the cost northward.

1. We should look at the available Roof Top Space from residential building versus commercial buildings and factory sheds and also the power consumption pattern i.e. day time or evenings.
2. The average available Roof Top Space from commercial building and factory shed would be at least 5 to 10 times one available from residential premises and therefore we have more power available for feeding back to the grid. The distribution networks for commercial and factory areas are more reliable. DISCOM should be in a position to accept the power from such roof-top solar plants.
3. The average space available from residential building (approx 200 Sq m) and effective solar power available from that is small just enough to support that residential load itself . Residence premises would consume less power during day time and therefore it makes sense to have off-grid solar system.

In a net metering system usually to grid takes all the electric power produced. In the case when the grid is down the solar system must be turned off so that the line men are not hurt. I guess the people of India have never seen an off the grid solar system. We have many locations that are grid connected and yet these off the grid solar electric systems (with solar inverter) handle up to 99% of the electrical loads for homes and industrial sites. I know of a few locations in India where these off grid solar systems are going to be installed. Sometimes people are not sure if solar electric systems are practical. If solar electric systems were not practical; why would India want 53 GW by 2017? We need to understand two things. The most powerful energy known to man is the sun's energy. We also need to know that solar electric along with solar thermal and wind and yes even hydro electric will replace coal and diesel for generating electric power. We have two terms that not everyone is aware of. Mini grids feed the grid and micro grids feed towns. Mini grids are none other than solar and wind farms. No matter what Renewable Energy is here to grow and replace fuels.

Solar Irrigation has the mention to use roof of Huts at the fields for water supply, instead of wasting the lands for growing biomass:
Mail excerpts sent to MNRE on Biomass for a Seminar being organised): Please find enclosed the Project Financials for a Biomass power project (without carbon and charcoal benefits as envisaged by us for now, which needs moderation) for a 20 year project period and with an additional investment of Rs. 1.5 Crore (estimate only) after 10 years due to producer gas Engine's major overhaul..... I hope these should be highlighted by the Equipment suppliers as many Biomass power project developers have burnt the fingers on some / many of these accounts:

Rooftop power is a trap for the unpoor as well. No back up storage or power, when that grid goes down. Whether rich or poor, you will still be without power. When a major weather event hits transformers and power lines, ripping them apart as easy as shredded paper, then the power is gone, that's it, finito!