PM discusses India’s renewable energy scenario with First Solar CEO

On Thursday, PM Narendra Modi had discussed India's renewable energy landscape with the CEO of First Solar, Mark Widmar, to invest in the country's renewable market. Currently, India has the world's fastest-growing renewable energy programme. It has expanded its access to clean cooking fuel and covered over 80 million houses, making it one of the largest clean energy drives worldwide. Modi tweeted that solar power is close to his heart because it concerns the future of our planet. Welcoming Widmar, CEO of First Solar, discussed why India is the right place to invest in solar power and also talked about the country's green hydrogen mission. Previously, PM Narendra Modi with the Ministry of External Affairs had discussed India's renewable energy landscape with Mark Widmar. Further, Widmar shared the company's plan to use the government of India's production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing solar equipment using thin-film technology and integrating India into the global supply chain. The PLI scheme worth Rs 4,500 crore for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will help India to boost its domestic manufacturing capacity. The scheme aims to add 10 GW integrated solar PV manufacturing plants. In February, PM Modi invited global companies to take benefit from the PLI schemes and expand their manufacturing capacity in the country. According to the sources, PM Modi referred to India's target of 450 GW renewable energy capacity. He also focused on India's solar power manufacturing and said that the solar firms associated with it could take advantage of the PLI schemes. Mark Widmar praised India's climatic change policies and related industries. He said that all countries should follow what India has done in climate change, sources said. Sources said that both PM Narendra Modi and Mark Widmar agreed on the expansion of solar panel manufacturing in India, saying that the initiative will also benefit the countries in the region. Image SourceAlso read: Adani Group, RIL and 17 other companies bid for making solar modules Also read: India records 53% increase in rooftop solar installations in Q2 FY21