India To Subsidise Solar Power

India is to subsidise the running of solar plants as part of plans to develop its national energy infrastructure, Indian Energy Minister Vilas Muttemwar says.

The Indian Government will provide financial assistance amounting to 30 cents (R12) per kilowatt hour for solar photovoltaic energy and R10 per kilowatt hour for solar thermal power fed to the electricity grid, writes Reuters.

The private sector is expected to invest about US$253.7m (R10bn) in solar plants eligible for aid under the scheme over the next five years.

A maximum capacity of 10MW in each of the country's states and a maximum of 5MW per developer will be considered under the scheme, according to the plans.

By staff writer