K Subramanya
Although interrupted A by the current glob A al slowdown, the Indian economy needs to return to the growth rates of 8-9 per cent p.a. of the last 4 years. If we have to lift out of poverty the 400 million fellow Indians who live on less than one dollar a day, the growth rates need to continue and scale even greater heights.

Chinese solar company Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd said it was starting a 1.5 megawatt rooftop solar system project in Jiangsu province in China and the project is expected to be eligible for subsidies by the Chinese government.

The photovoltaic module maker said it was building the system in HuaiAn City with state-owned Jiangsu Guoxin Asset Management Group.

The government is likely to take initiative to make the installation of solar power system easier and cost effective in urban areas so people could cope with the mounting power crisis.

Sources said the government is eager to simplify solar power equipment import and offer special bank loan for its import and installation.

German solar companies that have not yet set up US and Chinese production plants are likely to lose out on significant subsidies and will struggle to bring down their production costs to the levels of their Asian peers.

Nandini Chandrashekar, DH News Service,Bangalore:

Power cuts at the Government

Remote villages of Deh Tiko Baran in Jamshoro district will be provided electricity generated through solar technology at a cost of Rs10 million.

The global photovoltaic (PV) power industry is experiencing dramatic technology advances and market growth. Over the past 20 years, manufacturing output has grown by a factor of 200, reaching 5 gigawatts (GW) in 2008. The total accumulated installed capacity is now around 15 GW.

Selco

The German solar industry expects a recovery in the second half of this year after a string of earnings showed on Thursday the sector has written off the first three months as the low point of 2009.

California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co on Wednesday announced an expanded agreement with solar thermal power company BrightSource Energy Inc for more than 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of clean, solar energy.

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