Protecting Domestic PV Makers

The Indian Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) emphasised that his country will appeal against the WTO ruling against India in the domestic content requirement case filed by the US. Recently India lost the case lodged by the US at the WTO about India’s domestic content requirements (DCR) in solar power development projects.

Speaking at an event in Pune in the state of Maharashtra, he said that he convinced the solar energy producers in India to not press for anti-dumping measures as that would have led to more damage.

On April 10, 2016, the Financial Express reported that Goyal said that India will appeal against the US at the WTO with 16 cases while continuing to source every piece of equipment by domestic manufacturers. His ministry is planning to come out with a policy to encourage manufacturing in India. He reportedly said, “India does not bow to this kind of pressure and it will fight it out and appeal. I will continue to protect every domestic manufacturer and take every solar equipment that is produced here.”

Goyal pointed towards the International Solar Alliance, which has been initiated by India during COP21 in Paris, bringing together many solar rich nations. He said, while the US has contributed ‘zilch’ towards efforts in the area of climate change, India is working towards it with one of the largest solar energy generation programs in the world. An official press release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), quoted the minister as saying, “We are taking steps not because of pressure from them but because of our consciousness in recognizing the value of the universe.”

He also laid stress on adoption of solar energy in rural and urban areas. Building the case for solar, he said that the cost of solar is less than fossil fuels, as the tariff remains the same for a period of 25 years, and it is clean energy with no adverse impact on the environment.