| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Renewable energy, Issue: Restriction on import of Solar PV cell |
Context: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) ordered to re-implement its 2021 notification of an ‘Approved List of Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic [PV] Modules’ (ALMM list)
India’s dependence on import of solar cell:
- India imported $11.17 billion worth of solar cells and modules in past five years.
- China supplied 53% of India’s solar cell imports and 63% of solar PV modules.
- India’s solar sector manufacturing capacity is primarily concentrated in the final manufacturing stage.
- China’s competitiveness in solar PV manufacturing is attributed to lower power costs and government prioritization of the sector.
Policy steps to reduce dependence on solar import:
- ALMM order in January 2019 to regulate solar module manufacturers.
- ₹19,500 crore PLI scheme in the Union Budget of 2022-23.
- Government imposed a 40% customs duty on PV modules and 25% on PV cells
| +1 advantage for mains (Data points)·                The government aims to achieve 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
·                Solar power contributed about one-third of all energy generated from renewables between April 2023 and February 2024. ·                India’s solar power potential is estimated at 748.99 GW, indicating significant untapped opportunities. |
