IIA launches All India Solar Summit 2018, renewal energy to be priority for UP govt

LUCKNOW: The apex association for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) IIA organised the ‘All India Solar Summit-2018’ (AISS-2018) in Gomtinagar, Lucknow. The summit was inaugurated by Brajesh Pathak, UP’s minister for renewal energy at IIA Bhawan. Claimed to be one of the biggest solar exhibitions in the country, the event witnessed 63 solar companies from across nine states participating and displaying their products and services related to solar energy.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 7pm for all public and there is no entry fee applicable. In his inaugural address, Brajesh Pathak said that renewal energy was not in the priority list of the previous governments. He said, “The Renewal Energy Department of UP government realized the concern of prime minister for carbon emission and with the directives of UP’s chief minister, we have assigned a top priority to reduce carbon emission through promotion of production and use of solar energy.”
Accordingly department of renewal energy, UP Government, has come out with new solar policy in December 2017. “We have targeted to generated 10700 megawatt solar power by 2022 out of which 4300 megawatt will be generated through rooftop solar plants and 6400 megawatt will be generated through grid connected big and medium scale solar power plants. To achieve this target we are going to float the tenders for generation of 1000 megawatt solar power in March 2018,” Pathak said.
IIA said that the Solar Summit will help in setting up manufacturing units for solar equipment’s and materials and hence will help in the mission of the prime minister for Make in India. National president IIA Sunil Vaish in his welcome address said that after so many years IIA & the entrepreneurs of UP are feeling that the state government is serious and committed for the development of industries in UP.
“Indian Industries Association is organizing the Solar Summit for the last five years now, but this year Solar Summit is unique because it is being held immediately after the conclusion of UP. Investor Summit where a large number of proposal have been received for setting up solar energy power plant in the state. As on date, UP is not a leading state in solar energy production, but I am sure in coming years with the efforts of the government and Indian Industries Association (IIA), UP will acquire the status of a leading state in this sector,” he added.
IIA assured the government its full support in achieving the target of generation of 10700 megawatt solar power by 2022.