Context: As India’s solar energy capacity continues to accelerate, the domestic industry is seeking an enhanced production-linked incentive scheme, second instalment of PM-Kusum and viability gap funding to accelerate potential for energy storage, in the upcoming Union Budget.
- Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO at the industry body National Solar Energy Federation of India, told The Hindu, “The sector has grown big today, we are no more a sub-sector of the power sector. We are the second-largest generator in terms of installed capacity, therefore, our aspirations have increased in the same proportion.”
PLI for ingots
- Mr. Pulipaka sought the government instituting a production-linked incentive (PLI) or a similar scheme, for manufacturing ingots. They are among the raw materials used for making solar cells.
- “These are all capital-intensive parts,” he stated.
- Separately, Prafulla Pathak, Solar Energy Society of India (SESI) also insisted on good financial allocation for the industry to help push overall indigenous production.