With an aim to promote Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) Technologies beneficial to various industrial sectors, Global Environment Facility and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (GEF-UNIDO) in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the project ‘Promoting business models for increasing penetrations and scaling up of solar energy’.
Under this project, a series of workshops and site visits are being organised to create awareness about the technology and its potential of application in the industrial sector. Wider participation and support from industry was ensured through close cooperation with the State Nodal Agency Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam ltd. (MPUVN) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the workshop and site visits to the Rajeev Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV) at Airport Road and the Anant Spinning Mills in the Mandideep Industrial Area of Bhopal.
The RGPV campus showcased the Cross linear -Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) system innovated by Professor Yukata Tamaura in Rajeev Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV) while in the Anant Spinning Mills site the Parabolic Trough CST system was demonstrated.
The workshop focusing on promotion of “CST technologies for industries” provided a platform to a large number of senior industrial representatives in and around Madhya Pradesh to have open discussions with the consumers and manufacturers of CST systems.
National Project Manager, UNIDO Anil Misra in his welcome address demystified the barriers associated with technology adoption, and also shared details on the most suitable solar thermal technologies namely, Parabolic Troughs, Dish Collectors and linear Fresnel systems.
Chairman, CII Madhya Pradesh State Council CP Sharma in his remarks appealed that industry should come forward to implement solar technologies in their factories because usage of Solar Energy in industries is a sustainable and cost effective method.
Principal Secretary, Madhya Pradesh and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam ltd. (MPUVN) Manu Srivastava observed that Solar Thermal technology promotion reaching industrial areas in Madhya Pradesh definitely indicates that the impetus in this area is gaining ground.
Convener – Energy & Environment Panel, CII MP State Council K Vaidyanathan, in his concluding remarks mentioned that investments in CST definitely makes a lot of business sense as ultimately one is creating sustainability for the entire industry.