Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday 13 March 2018

Modiji’s ( incomplete ) Message !





Business Line ( 12 March ) carries following news :







Highlight :


“In India, we have started the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programme. We will generate 175 GW of electricity from renewable sources of energy by 2022, of which, 100 GW will be from solar power. We have already achieved 20 GW installed solar power,” Modi said, inaugurating the Summit that was co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.


President Macron, who is on a four-day visit to India, highlighted that to generate 1 TW (terawatt) of solar power by 2030, as envisaged under the ISA, a funding corpus of $1 trillion will be required even as he underlined financial and regulatory hurdles within the member countries for achieving the target.


But in order to reach the $1,000 billion by 2030, to reach the 1TW of solar energy, we need private investors. It means that we will improve the regulations, the terms in order to support investments in renewable. It is also about improving public procurement and to provide efficient policies,” he said.


He also urged countries to facilitate purchase and supply of electricity generated from solar energy.





In 58 months ( March 2018 – Dec 2022 ) , India needs to install 80 GW of solar to reach its target


That means 1.4 GW per month for next 58 months



That 1.4 GW would require funds of $ 1.4 Billion ( approx. Rs 10,000 crore )


Every month , month after month , for next 58 months


That is why Mr Macron talks about “ need for private investors


This is unlikely to come about unless following issues are resolved – and FAST :


·         Forget about that proposed “ Safeguard Duty “ of 70 % ( recommended by a govt agency ) , on imported Solar Panels , in order to protect Indian Manufacturers ( really , “ assemblers “ ? )


If anything , reduce that ( custom ) duty even further – may be ZERO %  !


Our “ immediate goal “ must be to get solar power at Re 1 / Kwh , for all  !


Our “ medium term “ goal must be to make India such a “ Low Cost Economy “ that we can double our exports by Dec 2022  !



·         Land based large Solar Power plants need Transmission Lines to evacuate power and feed into grids. That requires funds and long time for erection / commissioning .Hence govt must vastly liberalize its policy for Roof Top solar plants which do not need any transmission network / no metering / no PPA  !


For roof top installations , currently govt gives 30 % subsidy



Change this as follows :


#   30 % by way of subsidy


#   70 % by way of interest free loan , repayable over 10 years



·         Come out with clear and legally binding “ Power Purchase Agreements “ from which , DISCOMS cannot back out


·         Implement BLACK MONEY AMNESTY SCHEME for SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE SPVs , as suggested in my following blogs ( earlier sent as emails to Cabinet Ministers ) :



FROMGREED TO GREAT ?  [  01  Oct  2015  ]

14  March  2018



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