Studies say that covering 4% of the world’s deserts with photovoltaic cells could supply all the world’s energy. Wind energy can theoretically supply more than 15 times of the world’s energy demand. This is the staggering potential of renewables in meeting our growing energy requirements.

The global renewable energy market is doubling every three years. Alternative energy is a booming business and India is positioned favorably to take advantage of the growing opportunity, with its abundant resources and scientific, engineering and R&D capabilities. The renewable energy sector in India attracted investments worth US$ 3.7 billion in 2008, a growth of 17% over the previous year.

India generates 13,878 MW of grid-interactive power from renewable resources like wind, small hydro, solar, biogas co-generation and biomass, which accounts for 9% of total installed generation capacity. The 11th Five Year Plan targets 14,000 MW of grid interactive and distributed renewable power generation installed capacity by 2012. This envisions a 10% contribution of renewables in power generation capacity by 2012.

The Indian Government is actively working towards promoting the development of renewables. The National Action Plan on Climate Change underlines that the central and the state electricity regulatory commissions must purchase a stipulated percentage of grid-based power from the renewable energy industry.

The Prime Minister’s council on climate change is initiating a $19-billion National Solar Mission to generate 20 GW by 2020. Just recently, the Finance Minister has announced customs duty cuts on bio diesel from 7.5% to 2.5%, boosting the use of green fuel.

India has signed a declaration at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) last month, which could create an enabling environment for reaching a climate change agreement during the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December.

State level initiatives are also stimulating the progress of renewable energy.

Installation of roof-top photovoltaic systems will get central financial assistance in Haryana. Himachal Pradesh plans to tap 12,000 MW hydel power by 2012 and has decided to allot 256 new small hydel projects to smaller players in the state. The Gujarat government and the US-based Clinton Foundation are in talks to set up an Integrated Solar City project with a capacity to generate 5000 MW over a period of time. The Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency is working on a project to implement the world’s largest number of solar lighting systems in the region.

India is the only country in the world to have a dedicated Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, which takes various measures to encourage renewable energy schemes. The MNRE also supports sector specific seminars, workshops and training programs. It organizes special events like the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas and supports renewable energy events such as the Renewable Energy India expo.

We congratulate the Exhibitions India Group for giving the renewable energy industry a global platform for business and technology development.

I would like to take this opportunity to announce a momentous partnership. India will play host to the International Renewable Energy Conference series in 2010, organized by the MNRE and managed by the Exhibitions India Group. The IREC series was borne from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development with the inaugural edition in Bonn in 2004 followed by Beijing in 2005 and Washington in 2008. We look forward to a large-scale global participation of 40 countries at DIREC 2010’s technical conference and concurrent exhibition. The theme and underlying objective of the show will be “Upscaling and Mainstreaming Renewables for Energy Security and Climate Change”.

Renewable energy offers us hope for a sustainable future. We must actively work towards incorporating clean and green energies in our lives, as businesses and as individuals. There are many challenges faced by the industry and events like the 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo go a long way towards solving these challenges and promoting the adoption of renewables.

I wish the participants of the 3rd Renewable Energy India 2009 Expo the very best for a successful experience at the show.