Commodity Online

NEW DELHI: The government will amend the building bye laws for making the use of solar water heaters mandatory in certain categories of building.

A New and Renewable Energy Ministry release said that the government has taken several steps such as amendment of building bye laws to making water heaters mandatory in certain buildings, rebate property tax/electricity tariff to the users of solar water heaters in order to encourage use of solar energy in the day to day life.

An amount of Rs. 600 crore has been tentatively allocated for Research, Design and Development in New and Renewable Energy Sector for the 11th Five Year Plan, it said.

The release stated that during the last Five Year Plan period, Rs. 72.65 crore were spent for the same activities by the Ministry of New Renewable Energy.

The Ministry has launched some new schemes in addition to implementation of ongoing schemes to encourage large scale use of solar energy in the country during the 11th Five Year Plan Period. The new schemes include Development of Solar Cities and Demonstration Programme on MW size Grid Solar Power Generation , it noted.

In addition, Research and Development thrust areas for solar and other New and Renewable Energy Technologies for the 11th Five Year Plan period have also been identified and publicized through newspaper and website advertisements for further intensifying research and technology development in this area.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy supports Research, Design and Development (RD D) activities in New and Renewable Energy including solar energy in the country.

Comprehensive guidelines for supporting and accelerating pace of Research, Design and Development leading to eventual manufacture and deployment of various Renewable Energy Systems including solar energy have been put in place, the release added.

Energy Renewable energy Solar energy