Sun shines brighter in Rampura

Working on a pilot basis,Scatec has funded and set up,with active engagement with the Rampura community,an off-grid solar electrification system. Solheim,who is in India to attend a summit,will visit the village to examine the project and look for ways to “upscale” such initiatives.

“Rampura is a pilot project but Norway would like to be involved in upscaling such projects to a larger level,” Solheim said. “Solar energy is a fascinating idea. It is easily available in India and can help so many enterprises in the city. Students can read at night,and small enterprises can come up.”

It’s not just energy. Norway is also interested in clean cars,with the public-private route being the way forward,Solheim said. “The Tata group has started investing in Norway. I think the way forward would be to combine the expertise that Tata has in manufacturing cheap cars with the Norwegian expertise in manufacturing electric cars,” he said.

Arguing passionately for the importance of the carbon market at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) on Thursday,Solheim said: “The only way to make finances for mitigating climate change is through the carbon market and the private sector. I believe two per cent of the carbon credits should be auctioned internationally. And the way forward is the government working with private players,and technology transfer in the private sector.”

Giving details of the Rampura project,Scatec CEO Ravi Khanna said: “It is a 10 kilowatt project. We would like to spread this model and this pilot project has shown us this is possible.” The villagers pay a tariff for this electricity,based on his consumption,Khanna added. “For example,if a villager is using only a plug point,it would cost him about Rs 40 per month. The government spends billions of rupees on subsidies on kerosene,which harms the environment. This is a smarter option.”