Lok Sabha Question No. 2691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA, C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2691 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2017

## Climate Change

## 2691 . SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA: SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the World Bank has observed that India is emerging as a frontrunner in the fight against climate change and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the World Bank has noted that India is gradually replacing coal energy with solar power as a source of energy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the objectives of  International  Solar Alliance like bringing down prices by driving demand, bringing standardization in solar technologies and fostering research and development are accomplished by the Government;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether World Bank has advised multinational companies to invest in solar energy sector in India and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) & (b) As per news report World Bank has observed that India is emerging as a frontrunner in  the  fight  against  climate  change  and  noted  that  India  is  gradually  replacing  coal  energy with solar power as a source of energy. India has been addressing climate change as one of its key national priorities.The government has set ambitious targets that include 160 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar by 2022,with a massive commitment to solar power expansion of 100  GW  by  2022.  Further,  India  has  committed  to  achieve  about  40  percent  cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

(c) & (d) The objectives of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to bring down prices by driving demand, bringing standardization in solar technologies and fostering research in line with  Government  of  India's  policy  for  development  and  deployment  of  solar  energy technologies.  In  the  year  2010,  National  Solar  Mission  (NSM)  was  introduced  as  part  of National Action Plan on Climate Change which inter-alia set a target to install 20 GW grid connected solar power capacity by the year 2022. This target was up-scaled to 100 GW in the year 2015.   As of June  2017, over 13.1 GW  grid connected solar power plants have been commissioned.  NSM has already led to a decrease in tariffs and overall project costs. Solar energy  systems/devices  set  up  under the programmes adhere to the prevailing standards as applicable at the time of installations. In addition, the Government of India supports research and development in solar energy.

(e)The World Bank President, in a statement during his visit to India in June 2016, inter-alia supported India's ambitious initiatives to expand solar energy through investments in solar generation. This is in line with the Government of India's policy for encouraging investment and transfer of technology in solar energy.

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