NEW DELHI (TIP): It’s official now. The government is reaching for the Sun by raising the target for adding solar power capacity five times to 100,000 mw by 2022. The Cabinet’s panel on economic affairs on June 16 put its stamp on the grand plan that is estimated to cost Rs 600,000 lakh crore.

The Cabinet’s economic committee also approved a plan to set up 2,000 mw grid-connected solar capacity this year with viability gap funding under Phase-II of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.

So is India poised to emerge as a solar powerhouse?Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad would believe so. “This is a giant step and India will become the biggest producer of solar power in the world,” he told reporters after the Cabinet’s meeting.

But one would have to watch out for China and Japan, apart from the US, before India can rightfully stake its claim to the numero uno position in this regard.

The Centre would provide Rs.15,050 crore as capital subsidy. “The ministry of new and renewable energy intends to achieve the target of 100,000 mw with three schemes of 19,200 mw… Apart from this, projects with investment of about Rs 90,000 crore would be developed using bundling mechanism with thermal power,” a government statement said.