Suresh Prabhu inaugurates NTPC’s 2nd Energy Tech Summit

Technological advancement, economic growth, combating climate change and fast-tracking technologies for renewables should be the topmost priority said Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Railways inaugurating NTPC’s second ‘Global Energy Technology Summit’ GETS 2015 in New Delhi. In his address, Prabhu congratulated NTPC for 40 years of purposeful existence and for being a shinning star of the country.

Government has an ambitious plans for deployment of 175 GW renewable power capacities by 2022, including 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of Wind, which may require investment of around $150 billion in the next seven years.

Stressing on the need for increasing the efficiency of solar photovoltaic, Prabhu was of the view that research and development is very important in renewable energy and there is need to increase Solar PV efficiency to 30 to 40 per cent.

He also suggested that NTPC should redefine itself as a total energy solution provider rather remaining as a power generator or distributor saying that it can also set up small grid solar power projects to supply power to remote areas.

Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary of Science & Technology Department, in his address appreciated NTPC’s role for stablising the power scenario in the country in the last 40 years. He emphasised that technology can not be viewed in isolation and has important bearing on water, health, climate and other societal aspects. Sharma further said that technology must be global ,combining the best of science across the globe with local requirement. He said that cleaner coal technologies shall remain relevant as the coal shall remain as the major contributor of energy in the foreseeable future.

Speaking on the occasion NTPC CMD Anil Kumar Jha emphasized that environment sustainability is challenge before humanity and renewables shall become main source of energy for the world by the year 2030.