India establishes renewable energy zone

The Indian government recently said it has set aside 2,000 hectares (5 acres) of land for new facilities, which will house promising renewable energy technologies being prepared for use across India.

The land located in Nagpur in central India is being developed by the Maharastra Industrial Development Corporation and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, according to news reports.

The Indian government said an unnamed European firm has contributed 22,000 crores ($4.7 billion) for the economic development zone. That same firm plans to build a major unit for annual production of 20,000 tons of polysilicon used in solar panel construction.

Recently, the EU set up an innovation center to help nurture cleantech developments for the emerging market (see EU plans Indian center to spur cleantech trade).

The government said it is focusing effort on non-conventional energy sources, such as wind and solar power. The renewable energy development zone is also expected to accompany various tax benefits for renewable energy technologies (see Glitnir to bring geothermal to India).

To date, India has emerged as a major supplier of equipment for wind power technologies. Among the companies building and supplying those technologies is Pune-based Suzlon Energy.

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