UNIDO along with MNRE preparing roadmap for 100 MW CST in India

To popularize and promote concentrated solar thermal (CST) in the non-conventional energy segment, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in association with New and Renewable Energy Ministry (MNRE)  is preparing a road map for 100 MW (megawatt) CST capacity for the next five years in India, the road map is expected to be completed in next two months.

CST technologies are sufficiently suited for heating, drying and cooling applications for industrial processes and useful for cooking and domestic purposes. UNIDO has shortlisted 14 sectors for their application. The project aims to facilitate the installation 45,000 sq metre of installed concentrated solar (CS) collector area through 15-25 demonstration and 60 replication. UNIDO will provide $1.8 million for demonstration projects and to support manufacturing of CST component in India.

Joint Secretary to the ministry of new and renewable energy Tarun Kapoor has said that presently, about 250 CST systems, which are off-grid, are operating in India and added that government provides 30 per cent subsidy for installation of CST. Under the project, additional 5 per cent interest rate subvention is provided, this additional 5 percent is equal to 20 percent subsidy making the net subsidy almost 50 per cent.

UNIDO’s National Project Manager Anil Misra has said that about Rs 18,000-20,000 investment is needed for a square metre of CST area with single and double axis collector and Rs 12,000 are the estimated cost for non-imaging collector. One sq mt of CST produces 3.5-kilo calories and solar themal’s efficiency is around 40-50 per cent while the same for solar PV is about 15 per cent. Land requirement for CST project is one third of solar PV project.