Solar Has Huge Potential to Benefit Energy Extensive Sectors, says Gadkari

Solar sector has a huge potential and it can help in reducing the electricity cost significantly, said Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Road Transport and Highways (MORTH).

The Minister said during a meeting with the members of Maha Solar Sangathan, via video conferencing, to understand the opportunities in the solar energy sector.

While highlighting the importance of solar energy, he said sectors such as agriculture, warehousing etc. are energy extensive sectors and proper commercial use of solar energy such as solar water pump for irrigation and solar electricity for cold storage can contribute towards reducing power cost.

The Minister further emphasized on the need of export enhancement along with import substitution to replace foreign imports with domestic production. He also encouraged solar manufactures to make India self-reliant with the help of ‘Make in India’ products.

The MORTH Minister urged industry representatives to come up with some new, innovative and economically viable business models which can be implemented in various sectors like agriculture, warehousing etc. to provide low-cost sustainable energy.

This will not only help in reducing the cost of energy in various sectors but also provide the required thrust for Make in India initiative, he added.

He opined that industry should focus more on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, research skill and experiences to convert the knowledge into wealth.

By citing an example of Japan, he said that the Government of Japan has offered a special package to its industries for withdrawing Japanese investments from China and move elsewhere. Gadkari told to industry stakeholders that this can be an opportunity for India to attract foreign investment in the country.