India is on track to soar past a goal to deploy more than 100 gigawatts of solar power by 2022, the country’s energy minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.
Speaking at the release of a 15-point action plan for the country’s renewable sector, Goyal said he was now considering looking at “Something more” for the fast-growing solar sector.
“I think a new coal plant would give you costlier power than a solar plant,” he said.
In the past financial year, nearly 20GW of solar capacity has been approved by the government, with a further 14GW planned through 2016 according to the Union Budget.
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Capital costs have fallen 60% in the past four years and could drop a further 40% reports Deutsche Bank, which said in a report last year solar investment would overtake coal by 2020.
Solar energy prices hit a new record low in January with the auction of 420 megawatts in Rajasthan at 4.34 rupees a kilowatt-hour.
“If one airline goes bankrupt I don’t think people stop flying in aircraft,” he joked, insisting India had renewable energy benchmarks that are “Unparalleled in the world.”
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Goyal added India was now willing to help developing countries in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific to develop clean energy plans free of charge.
“I sincerely believe that what the West is doing in this respect is anti-development and anti the fight against climate change,” he said, accusing rich countries of charging too much for clean technology.
The World Trade Organisation recently incurred the anger of the Modi government when it ruled India was illegally supporting domestic over international solar producers.
“India should stop following the world and now is destined to lead the world as champion for underdeveloped, clean tech and clean energy,” he said.
