NEW DELHI, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- India plans to set up a zone to manufacture equipment for clean energy.
“The proposed special economic zone for manufacturing equipment for clean energy would come up at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion,” Vilas Muttemwar, junior minister for new and renewable energy, said Wednesday.
He said the location of the zone was being finalized; proposals had been received from six states -- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He was speaking at India Energy Summit 2007 organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, an apex Indian trade body.
"The estimated initial cost of the SEZ is around $2.5 billion. The location would be finalized after taking into account factors such as central location, logistics availability and others," he said.
The ministry will form a joint venture with the state government and private players, he said.
Muttemwar said there was a potential to produce up to 250,000 megawatts of power from renewable sources in the country. The ministry has set a target of capacity addition of up to 14,000 MW in the 11th five-year plan, while its target for the 12th and 13th plans is 30,000 MW.
"By the end of the 13th plan (2021-22), renewable power capacity is likely to reach 54,000 MW, comprising 40,000 MW wind power, 6,500 MW small hydropower and 7,500 MW biopower," he said.
"Over 10,500 MW renewable power-generating capacity has been installed until September this year, comprising 7,321 MW from wind, 2,013 MW from solar power and 1,222 MW from biopower," he said.
