Coal reserves running out, switch to renewable energy: Parikh

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) With coal reserves expected to run out in the next 45 years in the country, there is a greater need to switch to renewable sources of energy, Planning Commission member Kirit S Parikh said here today.

''The country's 80-90 per cent of future power projects coming up on coal. The manufacturers of the country should enter into long term agreements with the suppliers of coal to develop a mechanism so as to maintain the availability for future needs,'' Mr Parikh said on the sidelines of third South Asia Renewable Energy Conference 2008.

Commenting on the Indo-Iran Gas Pipeline Project, he said, ''Gas is a clean form of energy, and looking at the present demand in the country, it is a very significant step.

Mr Parikh also emphasised the need for harnessing the solar power to generate electricity, particularly in the rural India.

According to him , with harnessing of solar energy, the country can generate nearly 50,000 MW of solar power by 2050, the capacity of which could be further enhanced to over 75,000 MW.

''Initially, their should be susbsidies extension to promote such power projects and thereafter subsidy should be done away with as solar power is much more environment-friendly and can be harnessed with little more costs,'' the Planning Commission Member said.

The Planning Commission will also push other renewable sources of energy for power generation, particularly in the field of wind power generation as it is estimated that by 2050 the country can generate 1,00,000 MW of power by harnessing wind energy.

UNI AK SG AS1723