Solar majors like ACME and Schneider are looking to tap the clean energy opportunities in the Indian pharma industry and move way from diesel driven generators. The effort could lead to decrease in carbon foot print, reduce usage of diesel-run generators and lead-acid batteries.

With India putting up with power generation deficit which is impacting the manufacturing schedules of industries, solar seems to be an answer. Particularly pharma industry requires high quality power for its operations spanning from separation, filtration, manufacturing, drying and packaging. Solar being renewable power has a major focus in the government’s agenda to ensure that power scarcity is addressed in addition to environmental benefits of renewable power and expected shortage of conventional sources of fuel for energy.

A few weeks ago, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) spared solar power generator companies from payment of wheeling or transmission charges. It also exempted the banking charges or generators supplying power to the grid. Further, it has also let off the cross subsidy charges for 10 years from the date of commissioning a solar power unit.

According to the KERC circular, wheeling and banking charges currently stand at 7 per cent of the power generation while cross subsidy surcharges ranges between 7 paise and Rs.4.75 per unit. Now the state power regulator will allow solar power to be sold in the open market at competitive rates.

Solar is being discussed as an alternative to conventional power and is a potential source of power in places which are having power crisis. It is also recommended to pharma industries which have abundance of space and solar irradiation to install solar systems which can be used to generate solar power, Anurag Garg, VP Solar Business, Schneider Electric India told Pharmabiz.

The big interest for companies to go solar follows the government support. Pharma industrial parks dependent on diesel power as a backup when grid power is insufficient or unreliable. It is also preferred because it is economical and environment-friendly, said Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, chairman & managing director, ACME Group.

“Solar power is a cost-effective solution and is on par with the grid power cost but lower than the DG generated power cost. In the long run, solar power economics are better than any other conventional sources of power. With short construction time, modularity and simple operations and maintenance of solar power plant, it becomes a successful technology which will be the future of power generation, said Upadhyay.

Schneider reaches various industries and sector through its partners and system integrators, who do system integration at customer site. Some of these are for the pharma industry opting for solar rooftop systems said Garg, adding that the new government is extremely bullish on renewable power.

Many industrial parks and zones install a large solar power plants for captive consumption. In addition government provides several incentives to customers to install and use solar power. However, we still see lack of awareness about the benefits of solar which is a major is a major impediment to tap projects, said Garg.